Join us at the campfire for tales from around the world, told by storytellers of all backgrounds and creeds. From the heros and heroines of old, let us relearn and rediscover the wisdom of our ancestors. Shhh..the story begins..

The Eagle of Gwernabwy had long been married to his female mate and had by her many children. When she died, he continued a long time as a widower but, at length, considered proposing marriage to the Owl of Cwm Cwmlwyd. Afraid that she might be too young for him, he decided to inquire about her age among the ancients of the world. Accordingly, he applied to the Stag of Rhedynfre, whom he found lying close to the trunk of an old oak, and requested to know the age of the Owl.

"I have seen," replied the Stag, "this oak as an acorn, which is now fallen to the ground through age, without either bark or leaves, and never suffered any hurt or strain except from my rubbing myself against it once a day, after getting up on my legs. But, I never remember having seen the Owl you mention younger or older than she seems to be on this day. There is, however, one older than I am and that is the Salmon of Glynllifon."

The Eagle then applied to the Salmon for the age of the Owl. The Salmon answered, "I am as many years old as there are scales upon my skin and particles of spawn within my belly. Yet, I have never seen the Owl you mention but the same in appearance. There is, however, one older than I am and that is the Blackbird of Cilgwri."

The Eagle next appealed to the Blackbird of Cilgwri, whom he found perched upon a small stone. The Eagle inquired of the Blackbird as to the age of the Owl. "Dost thou see the stone upon which I sit?" asked the Blackbird, "which is now no bigger than what a man might carry in his hand? I have seen this very stone of such weight as to be a sufficient load for a hundred oxen to draw, which has suffered neither rubbing nor wearing, save that I scrape my bill upon it once every evening and touch the tips of my wings against it every morning when I expand them to fly. Yet, I have never seen this Owl you mention either older or younger than she appears to be on this day. But, there is one older than I am and that is the Frog of Mochno Bog. If he does not know her age, then there is no creature living who would know it."

The Eagle went last of all to the Frog and desired to know the age of the Owl. The Frog replied, "I never ate anything but the dust from the spot which I inhabit, and that very sparingly. Dost thou see these great hills which surround and overawe this bog where I lie? They are formed only of the excrements from my body since I have inhabited this place. Yet, I never remember having seen the Owl in question as anything but an old hag, making that hideous noise. Too-hoo! Too-hoo! Always frightening the children in the neighborhood!"

So, it would appear that the Eagle of Gwernabwy, the Stag of Rhedynfre, the Salmon of Glynllifon, the Blackbird of Cilgwri, the Frog of Mochno Bog and the Owl of Cwm Cwmlwyd must be the oldest creatures in the whole wide world.

Novareinna welcomes all tale-travelers to Penumbra, her beautiful site/sight of stories and poetry and design.