The Spelt Prince

© Regina Franziska Rau
November 1986
Türkei - Manyas
Once it was in Turkey... I lived there with my Turkish friend whose child I carried. The parents of my friend had a small hut in Manyas - in the middle of Turkey. There were many elfs and goblins, at least I had seen now and then their 'shades' on the walls.

The whole surroundings and also the events reminded me of an episode, that now had become true from The Brothers Grimm's "Fairy Tales". There was still the beautiful, wild shepherd's dog Susie. I got on with her very well. And there were 20 sheep with which we shared the place on the tiny property.
The hut had only 4 little rooms, each as largely, as a bigger bathroom in the western countries would be. And there was also the small court in front of the garden. Everything was established meagerly, homemade from clay bricks, plastered scantily and whitened with lime. The doors hung obliquely in the in the hinges...

It was real adventurous. Often I felt like fallen into a time of fairy tales. Only I did not know how I should get out of this again, when I had seen enough. But this is another story.
One day I sat again outside in the court on the bench in front of the hut and sewed a small little coat with needle and thread for my son, to whose birth we all waited eagerly.
The sun appeared and a tepid breeze stirred. Everything was peaceful and quiet. The sheeps seemed to do their little afternoon sleep. Also in the house everything was quiet. I sewed and mused cheerfully and had sunk deeply into my thoughts. Suddenly something plucked a little bit at the back of my dress. I turned round frightened. There stood a ram. It looked impertinently at me and grazed joyfully at my dress.


I blamed him and explained that I still needed the dress and I had to tear it out again from his mouth. Then the ram came from the front and lowered the head a little. I looked directly into his eyes and shouted unmisanderstandably: "NO"! But he got still closer and sniffed at me. He looked at me long and piercingly. So long that I suddenly discovered his long, pitch-black lashes. And the fact that his face carried very noble features. Just like those of a noble man. A world opened in front of me - with castles and trumpets, with beautiful women and flower-gardens...

"What is?", I asked, "You might not be a cursed prince?" The ram looked at me farther piercingly. He got much more beautiful in my eyes - and I had to look to the side. He did not avoid my eyes. So I asked him, what I could do then for him. The ram did not turn his gaze away. I considered shortly and said: "Tell me - you certainly might have a few very nice wifes! Bring them to me and show them to me!" He disappeared immediately. I sewed farther quietly and was eased of having my peace again. Then again I was pulled at my dress. I did not look up, but turned only a little to the side. But the timid pulling became coarse plucking, so I turned round.

Sheep mother with her lamb There my "prince" stood in full splendour! He had brought all his wives and shone about the whole face! I could hardly believe it. "Wow, you are a proud prince!", I said to him. "I am not sure whether I am awake or dream. At the end you are really a prince!"

I stood up and went to the house. I had to think of this unusual meeting again and again.

Some times later at the rainy season, when the sheeps where hardly let outside, I asked, where the ram had his stable. Then I visited him. Inside the stable it was very dark. There was only a small trapdoor where some rays of the daylight fell in. My "prince" stood with the face to the wall, when I approached. He turned round and came to me. I stopped in the door. And again I saw his face so near, as if it was for the first time. Again I got moved. I said loudly: "And if all my childish thoughts were nearer with the truth - what then?!" At this moment the sunbeams, which fell through the trapdoor hit directly the eyes of my prince. And they shone like the fire of the emerald in its most gorgeous glow. This sight was very solemn.

I thanked him for such a rare meeting, wished him a full life in this manifestation and went away deeply touched in my heart.


 
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