Tuesday, December 14, 2010

I will make you a present of the whole world

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ldeh1wkKrT1qd3mgpo1_500.jpg
He was dragging along some pointed flat pieces of ice, which he laid together in all possible ways, for he wanted to make something with them; just as we have little flat pieces of wood to make geometrical figures with, called the Chinese Puzzle. Kay made all sorts of figures, the most complicated, for it was an ice-puzzle for the understanding. In his eyes the figures were extraordinarily beautiful, and of the utmost importance; for the bit of glass which was in his eye caused this. He found whole figures which represented a written word; but he never could manage to represent just the word he wanted–that word was “eternity”; and the Snow Queen had said, “If you can discover that figure, you shall be your own master, and I will make you a present of the whole world and a pair of new skates.”



The Snow Queen, Hans Christian Andersen
source: medicinals:
Joni Mitchell, 1976
Photo by Joel Bernstein

1 comment:

Laura said...

beautiful...such a brilliant imagination you have and a grand gift for story. So happy to have discovered your blog!