Woodland creatures features – Part 4, originally uploaded by Thorsten Becker.

After we’ve sat in silence for a while, exchanging mustering glance’
The prince of deers began conversing with me, standing in solid stance
“I much desire to ask you a question, long it has been on my mind
Please do tell, do not be offended, be so kind
But I wonder
Tell me son of man, for what is it good, all your struggle, all your strife
When none of it can add even one span to your life?
For what the racing, chasing, pain for little gain
As you run through life with much strain
Is it really worth it?
Is our kind missing something while wandering green pastures
Filling our souls at full tables that we did not prepare
While we walk each day with little care
While we watch from afar, aware
That your proud strides eventually turn into humped over postures?
And then you fall on to the ground.
Isn’t there something you have lost, something that needs to be found?”
So I sat and thought, with heavy heart
As words of old I found, buried in a corner of my mind
“Here my friend, I find
That the following words spoken long ago by a forgotten king of ours,
Words with lasting powers,
Ring true with your observation, from generation to generation:

I returned to see under the sun that the swift do not have the race, nor the mighty ones the battle, nor do the wise also have the food, nor do the understanding ones also have the riches, nor do even those having knowledge have the favor; because time and unforeseen occurrence befall them all. For man also does not know his time. Just like fishes that are being taken in an evil net, and like birds that are being taken in a trap, so the sons of men themselves are being ensnared at a calamitous time, when it falls upon them suddenly.”

“Wise words indeed!” the prince called out
“Now, please, stay with me and think about
The things you’ve just recalled
While we enjoy this simple day and worry naught”