Water, encircling the earthen layers of ancient dust that covers the ground, trodden and overworked by the hands of just and cruel men, overwhelms the mountains and the trees, the depths of river beds and the paths that feet do tread, floating above the faded airs above and settled within oceans, trembling and enraged. Salvation found within a destructive and nourishing procession into the belly of its sons, tranquility and equality effected as tides of love reign and nature does behold the rejuvenating death of evil in storms of choking and life giving waves. Noah began his journey thus, gopher and hammer united by a strike of love commanded, in special affection for a people to be born, nourished in the bosom of holy motherhood.
“Go, find your brothers, our journey hence, long and hard, requires much men, their strength and time to exhaustion and given for the fortune of generations to come,” spoke he, bearded and grey haired. “My staff. It is also upon the back of the colored tree hued in the red leaves that keep cool the midday heat within its shade. Go and bring it thus to me, old and heavy as it is.”
He fled, a boy, and nothing more now yet, to fetch the brothers to make way through waters split by the love of a father.
The abrasions upon the wooden staff, marked with age and the tales of predecessors unnamed and unchallenged, assured the singing man stronger than the seas and the wrath of God.
Fleeing in return from the trees that cool the midday heat, brothers following the patriarchal command, he gazed at his sons, living and breathing with a promised future, unknown to their innocent hearts.
“Come and tell me. Do you know what your eyes do see?”
“It’s your staff. I remember.”
“No, it is not mere staff nor wood, but marvel and miracle, for one day what you see will split the seven seas.”
“What do you mean?”
“One day, your sons will be lost and from heaven beholding God shall remember our work, as they, outnumbered, enslaved, and enraged shall see these words written upon this base: In the Image of God Have I Made Mankind. And laying this upon the earth, one will come to declare again for ages and ages to come, that no one be forgotten and not one be abandoned but this surrounding evil generation.
“What of me, father? Am I not evil too?”
“Look at me,” growled Noah, “Look at me!”
“Yes, father.”
“You are not evil nor wicked, nor ever have been. But be honest and truthful, hard working and caring of those who you have been entrusted, and peoples will come of your diligence and strength. Do you understand?” He said, clasping Japheth by his cheeks with worn and overused hands.
“I do understand,” said Japheth.
“One day you will be a father to a people that will last to the end of time. Remember my words for they will endure as does the sun that heats these holy lands.”
“What will they be like?”
A smile appeared upon the face of the aged father, illuminating creation and rejuvenating those who beheld him, as the light of the face of God was to Noah, so his smile was to Japheth.
“They will be a new people,” said he as he stretched across the skies his hand that encapsulated the whole horizon with the other holding the neck of his son beside his waist. “Not like these you see today, but born from the seed of you and your wife. They will heal the earth and save it, so that our God may have peace with the work of his hands. We must please him, lest we be named evil and unjust.”
“No, father. I will be good, hardworking and diligent, strong and wise, honest and without guile. Like you and our mother.”
“May God bless you Japheth and name your children for thee,” said he, “Keep watch over your brothers, for nature does not choose as do I.”