A
village came on hard times and its people were hungry, so they
abandoned their home in search of a more prosperous land. Unbeknownst
to them, they left behind a young boy and a young girl. The
girl was very upset at having been left behind and was inconsolable.
To please her, her brother made an insect doll from corn and
other grasses and gave it to his sister. This corn-being soon
came to life, a messenger from the gods sent to teach the children
how to please the gods and gain their favor.
But the girl became very sick. The corn-being flew away to
the south, seeking the corn maidens to help the girl recover
and to comfort the children. When the corn maidens arrived,
they gave the children food and told them that they were beloved
by the gods. They were destined to become great leaders, the
mother and father of their people.
The
land grew fertile again and the people returned to their village,
finding the boy and girl they had left behind. Because they
gods had visited the children and blessed them, they became
great leaders of their people, just as the corn maidens had
foretold.
But the corn-being was lonely and wished for a companion.
He went to the boy and asked him to make another corn-being
so that he would not be alone. He asked that the boy and his
people call him, his companion, and all of their offspring,
dragonfly. Because the corn-being had helped him in his time
of need, the boy agreed. He made a new corn-being like the
old and it too came to life. The boy told the dragonfly:
"I
will paint your form on sacred things to symbolize spring
and the spring rains that bring health to my people. Your
companion I will paint as a symbol of summer and the summer
rains."
Even today, the black, white, and red dragonfly arrives in
the summer with the blooming of the corn. He is followed by
his companion, the green dragonfly. Together they arrive with
the rains, harbingers of life and good health for the spring
and summer.
(Adapated from the version of this story told by Forrest
Mitchell and James Lasswell in A
Dazzle of Dragonflies.)
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