Denta-Lions

Once upon a time, long ago, a tawny sleek lion rushed through the jungle. He had forgotten that he was King of the Jungle. He only knew that he must run as fast as the wind. So many creatures chased him, making strange noises that frightened him in their intensity and because they did not mean anything to the lion.

He rushed through the tall grass looking for something to save him from enemies he didn’t know he had.

There was no light, the jungle was dark. Even the fireflies that usually lit the sky had disappeared. The stars in the sky seemed to know that they should not twinkle but gave off the opposite of light. Darkness.

In his headlong flight the lion didn’t see the huge tree until his head smacked into it and his body slumped to the ground, spent and barely breathing.

The lion’s jagged teeth began to crumble from the impact of the blow. And so it was that the night was spent in silence under the tree. The animals mourned to know the King of the Jungle lay still in the night.

As dark as the night was, the day brought yellow brightness. The jungle’s green leaves quivered as birds began their morning songs. Even the smallest beetle began its daily trek. Before long every animal and bird gathered around the lion at the base of the huge formidable tree. All sounds stopped in awe. It seemed they could smell the fear that the lion felt as he raced through the night.

As the inquisitive monkey pointed, the animals drew in an awestruck breath. For near the lion’s mouth they saw that tiny flowers bloomed and reflected the sun’s bright yellowness. The leaves were a jagged dark green, shaped almost like serrated blades.

As the animals watched, the yellow blooms raced across the jungled field as quickly as the lion raced the night before. The sounds of the jungle began again for the bright blooms made them happy.

The blooms became known as denta-lions. And as far as the eye can see, Denta-lions covered the earth bringing joy to each one who saw them. And each time you see a sea of dandelions, know that when you become afraid, wait for the morning, for you will find joy in sunshine. Darkness begets fear and sunlight begets hope.

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