“Who are you?” asked the little prince, and added, “You are very pretty to look at.”
“I am a fox,” the fox said.
“Come and play with me,” proposed the little prince. “I am so unhappy.”
“I cannot play with you,” the fox said. “I am not tamed.”
“Ah! Please excuse me,” said the little prince.
But, after some thought, he added:
“What does that mean–‘tame’?”
“It is an act too often neglected,” said the fox. “It means to establish ties.”
“‘To establish ties’?”
“Just that,” said the fox. “To me, you are still nothing more than a little boy who is just like a hundred thousand other little boys. And I have no need of you. And you, on your part, have no need of me. To you, I am nothing more than a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. But if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world . . .”
“My life is very monotonous,” the fox said. “I hunt chickens; men hunt me. All the chickens are just alike, and all the men are just alike. And, in consequence, I am a little bored. But if you tame me, it will be as if the sun came to shine on my life. I shall know the sound of a step that will be different from all the others. Other steps send me hurrying back underneath the ground. Yours will call me, like music, out of my burrow. And then look: you see the grain-fields down yonder? I do not eat bread. Wheat is of no use to me. The wheat fields have nothing to say to me. And that is sad. But you have hair that is the color of gold. Think how wonderful that will be when you have tamed me! The grain, which is also golden, will bring me back the thought of you. And I shall love to listen to the wind in the wheat…”
“What must I do, to tame you?” asked the little prince.
“You must be very patient,” replied the fox. “First you will sit down at a little distance from me–like that–in the grass. I shall look at you out of the corner of my eye, and you will say nothing. Words are the source of misunderstandings. But you will sit a little closer to me, every day …”
So the little prince tamed the fox. And when the hour of his departure drew near–
So the little prince tamed the fox. And when the hour of his departure drew near–
“Ah,” said the fox, “I shall cry.”
“It is your own fault,” said the little prince. “I never wished you any sort of harm; but you wanted me to tame you . . .”
“Yes, that is so,” said the fox.
“But now you are going to cry!” said the little prince.
“Yes, that is so,” said the fox.
“Then it has done you no good at all!”
“It has done me good,” said the fox, “because of the color of the wheat fields.”*
Great-Grandma Gigi left us yesterday, she is now resting. Telling [W] was like a knife; after her first years of being timid around Gigi, they finally had become fast friends these past two, and had so many lovely moments nestled on her couch, sharing secrets only the very young and the very old tell.
Some how books find one at just the right time. The Little Princerecently made its way into my hands, and when we heard the news that Gigi might not be coming home, this passage wouldn’t leave me. Instead, like all great words do, it wrapped itself around me, and made a resting place, this time for my tears. Oh, to be tamed: such joy, such sorrow.
18 Comments
Patty
Sunday, November 21, 2021 at 12:58 pmI miss your writing. Back when this blog was young, your voice rang through it like a bell, calling us home. I know you are busy with many projects, and I am so happy you are finding success and more and more people get to cook your food. But, I miss posts like this one. Maybe you do to.
Take care and keep creating,
Patty
Nadine
Wednesday, June 3, 2020 at 3:07 pmHello just wanted to give you a brief heads up and let you know a few of the pictures aren’t loading properly.
I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue. I’ve tried it in two different browsers and both
show the same results.
Under the almond tree
Monday, March 4, 2013 at 10:52 amSorry for you and your family loss,what a beautifuland touching farewell post.
Thank’s for sharing, we all know the pain of loosing our loved ones
/ Anna
tealeaver
Thursday, February 28, 2013 at 2:22 amVery sorry for your family loss. Your post today melted my heart and brought tears to my eyes.
Anonymous
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 at 11:58 pmI’m no longer certain the place you’re gett?ng
your inf?, h?wev?r great topic. I must spend ?ome tim? study?ng
mu?h mor? or figuring out mo?e.
Thank you f?r great inf? I was l?o?ing for this ?nformation for my mission.
my web blog :: planetside 2
my webpage: planetside 2
Melissa // The Fauxmartha
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 at 10:18 pmSo much love and depth in your bones. Thinking about you extra these days. Big hug!
Stefanie
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 at 8:27 pmI am so sorry for your loss and for having to explain all of that to your daughter. This post was a beautiful rememberance of your grandma’s spirit and brought a tear to my eye. Wishing you and your family lots of strength during this time.
Elaina
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 at 7:45 pmI’m so sorry for your loss sweetie…what a touching post and such beautifully captured photographs of the two of them. hugs xx
Emma Galloway
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 at 1:08 pmSending lotsa love to you and yours. It’s so hard for kids to understand I know, Kye still thinks we are going to see Great-Grandad in NZ. Cherish these beautiful photos love xx
Sacha
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 at 2:11 amBeautiful passage. I’m glad the words are helping to pull you through.
Tartlet Sweets
Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 7:32 pmI love how intently they are looking at and listening to one another in the photos. And your words are, as always, beautiful. So sorry for your loss.
*kate
Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 4:04 pmI love your writing, Sarah. I’m sorry for your loss.
Alll Kindsa Stuff
Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 3:25 pmSo very lovely, Sarah.
L
Melody
Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 3:24 pmLove to you all.
Caitlin
Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 3:07 pmbeautiful post. now i have a burning desire to read the little prince.
london bakes
Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 2:54 pmOh Sarah, I’m so sorry for your loss. What wonderful moments you have captured though between her and your daughter. She’ll never forget those precious conversations.
Jacqui
Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 2:51 pmI’m so sorry to hear about this. Beautiful words and images to tie to her memory.
Kristen - Dine & Dish
Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 2:49 pmI love The Little Prince… I need to read it again. What a beautiful post.