The river cuts through the middle of the Oasis, smooth as silk. Of course it does; the river comes first, as without it, the Oasis would not exist. The Oasis cradles the river, and the river gives it life.

The river is not more than twenty feet wide, and its current is sure but not overwhelmingly strong. Its waters are crystalline blue, and cold as the runoff from a glacier. There is no comfort to be found in its waters, only Truth.

No matter what time of day it is in the Oasis (which can hang for hours on the start of twilight, or the break of dawn), in the clearing of the Bonfire it is night. It is not the ancient heavy darkness of early morning hours, no. The clearing is always freshly dark, that hour after the sun goes down, when night is pulled well and truly across the sky save for the small pink shine of light in the west. The stars are all out like beacons of hope, and the Bonfire crackles with good cheer. The sound of the flames mix with the murmuring of the river, and the hypnotic spell is cast. Sitting down at the Bonfire, we are all ready to hear a good tale.

On my website, the Bonfire symbolizes posts about my study of mythology and religion.