The Dance
of the Black Panther

It was getting dark. I was walking by my favorite route along the water's edge; it extended to the far part of the Island and resembled the back of a huge dragon. Like a Lilliputian in a Land of Giants, I wandered more deeply into the near-deserted Island until I found myself in a secluded nook surrounded by huge poplars and various bushes.

I looked around. The Island illumined by the rising Moon was wonderful. A large disc of yellowy silver shone on heaven's dark vault. Moonlight played on the treetops, turning their leaves into an emerald-silver kaleidoscope. I became accustomed to the darkness, and felt calm and relaxed. As always something changed in me and I was ready to meet the unknown.

It came to me suddenly and soundlessly. A black shadow of a large cat appeared near me— a black panther. She stepped gracefully along the edge of the glade and looked at me with her sparkling eyes.

Despite all my previous efforts, I was left unprepared for what happened to me that night.It was a great mystery of meeting with the Unknown. As a windpipe is played by the blowing wind so I followed all what happened around me.

When the Black Panther came closer to me her movements became more diverse. They were spontaneous and yet revealed the animal's complex sense of play. I felt a definite order in them. She showed me a dance—a dance of the Black Panther. Her movements rhythmic, flowing and graceful, I was mesmerized. Answering something deep within me, I began to imitate her movements—my body filled with a new force—the black panther's force, which taught me a sacred dance.

I am infused with the dance's power, it overwhelms me and I follow it eagerly… I fly in it, I swim in it, repeating the panther's movements and following her. But then she jumps back and disappears. I do the same, but only darkness is before me…

In the next moment everything was over. The charms have disappeared. I left the glade and walked back to the river bank. The moon ,with rhythmic continuity, appeared and hid behind clouds moving over the night sky. One dark cloud reminded me of something —a 'black panther’ cloud slid across the sky. The meadows were hidden under the night fog, and the only movement on earth was that of the river, running calmly in a constant stream. The moon played on her surface, trembling on rhythmic waves, and silhouetting two birds…

—Black Panther’s Feather

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The Dance of the Black Panther

The Dance
of the Black Panther