The fascinating photo is for Sue Vincent’s photo prompt.
The conflagration grew in intensity as it swept across the planet, each exploded reactor, refinery, pipeline and chemical plant adding to the unquenchable fury of the flames. Shallow seas evaporated, tidal waves faltered and dispersed in monstrous clouds of boiling steam, and the oceans shrank, exposing fantastic rock formations that glowed red before crumbling to ash.
The wave of fire rolled over the earth in a final infernal embrace, reaching the cold waters of the north. In its wake, the forests of the great landmasses were reduced to glowing charcoal, their inhabitants to grey ash, but the great fire faltered over the black ocean. A tower of flame shot into the sky, sending its reflection miles out over the waves, to where a lone swan made a magic circle and said, Enough.
The fire roared but it advanced no further. The waves threw back the fiery reflection and the swan sailed in a widening circle, cold and black, drawing up the remnants of the first life until the darkness teemed with movement. The earth shivered and rolled, pushing up rocks from the ocean bed, and the swan left the water, settled in a comfortable hollow and waited for the grass to grow again, and for her mate to join her.
Lovely, Jane. I like the fire swan side by side with the dark π
Thanks Fran π It’s a magical photograph.
From destruction to beauty… π
I refuse to let our greed have the last words.
I’m right with you on that, Jane.
Swans couldn’t make a worse job of running things than we have.
They’d certainly do less damage.
Lovely Jane.
Thank you π This swan is a particularly magical one.
Perfection in the image of a fire swan this i could see as i read!β‘
Swans are already magical creatures, but the idea of a fire swan really grabbed me. I’m glad you like it π
It was absolutely wonderful reminded me of a Russian fairytale (The Fire Bird)
I’m glad you like it! The swan is unconnected with misfortune though, just wise and faithful.
Agreed. The swan is a positive not a negative, hence the power of the fire image.
Swan taken to another level π
So long as it’s not one of those gross buttered swans I’m good π
Not sure I know what they are, but I don’t like the sound of them.
Remember back in the seventies they would be those incredible ‘extravaganzas’ at naff dos – the giant swan – wow wow wow but not really at all π
They did them in the middle ages too, with roast stuffed swans π
gee gaads they did didn’t they? SO now we know what to be thankful for today … no roasted or buttered swans. Check π
I think in the UK you can still be hanged for killing a swan. They all belong to the crown. One of the perks.
I like this interpretation. Yes, enough. (K)
I hope someone says it soon.
Oo, I love it! Such vivid images of terrible destruction, then the wonderfully mythical swan standing up against it. We could use a legendary hero like that now.
Thank you Joy! Something as symbolic and magical as a swan might do it. Can’t think humanity will ever be up to stopping what we’ve set in motion.
I have hope. It’s not rational to hope, perhaps, but it’s better than the alternative.
And it motivates us to dare to change things.
Wow!
Armageddon with a happy ending.
You don’t often get that, do you?
Nice to read about! π
A mythical feel to your story. Love it.
There are lots of creation myths but fewer end of the world myths. Maybe this could be one of them π
Great flash. I love the ending.
Thank you, Michelle! I thought it was about time I wrote a hopeful ending π
π β€