Native American Legends
Colors
An American Indian Legend - Nation Unknown
Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel: all
claimed that they were the best, the most important, the most useful,
the favorite.
GREEN said: "Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign
of life and of hope. I was chosen for grass, trees, leaves - without
me, all animals would die. Look over the countryside and you will
see that I am in the majority."
BLUE interrupted: "You only think about the earth, but consider
the sky and the sea. It is the water that is the basis of life and
drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea. The sky gives space and
peace and serenity. Without my peace, you would all be nothing."
YELLOW chuckled: "You are all so serious. I bring laughter,
gaiety, and warmth into the world. The sun is yellow, the moon is
yellow, the stars are yellow. Every time you look at a sunflower,
the whole world starts to smile. Without me there would be no fun."
ORANGE started next to blow her trumpet: "I am the color of
health and strength. I may be scarce, but I am precious for I serve
the needs of human life. I carry the most important vitamins. Think
of carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangoes, and pawpaws. I don't hang
around all the time, but when I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset,
my beauty is so striking that no one gives another thought to any
of you."
RED could stand it no longer. He shouted out: "I am the ruler
of all of you - I am blood - life's blood! I am the color of danger
and of bravery. I am willing to fight for a cause. I bring fire
into the blood. Without me, the earth would be as empty as the moon.
I am the color of passion and of love, the red rose, the poinsettia
and the poppy."
PURPLE rose up to his full height. He was very tall and spoke with
great pomp: "I am the color of royalty and power. Kings, chiefs,
and bishops have always chosen me for I am the sign of authority
and wisdom. People do not question me - they listen and obey."
Finally, INDIGO spoke, much more quietly than all the others, but
with just as much determination: "Think of me. I am the color
of silence. You hardly notice me, but without me you all become
superficial. I represent thought and reflection, twilight and deep
water. You need me for balance and contrast, for prayer and inner
peace."
And so the colors went on boasting, each convinced of his or her
own superiority. Their quarreling became louder and louder. Suddenly
there was a startling flash of bright lightening - thunder rolled
and boomed. Rain started to pour down relentlessly. The colors crouched
down in fear, drawing close to one another for comfort.
In the midst of the clamor, rain began to speak: "You foolish
colors, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to dominate the
rest. Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose,
unique and different? Join hands with one another and come to me."
Doing as they were told, the colors united and joined hands. The
rain continued: "From now on, when it rains, each of you will
stretch across the sky in a great bow of color as a reminder that
you can all live in peace. The rainbow is a sign of hope for tomorrow."
And so, whenever a good rain washes the world, and a rainbow appears
in the sky, let us remember to appreciate one another.
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