The Lark Burying Her Father

Summary

The story presents an ancient legend about a lark, a small bird, that highlights themes of creation and overcoming challenges. According to the legend, the lark was created before the earth existed, and when her father died, she faced the dilemma of not having a physical place to bury him. For five days, the lark left her father's body uninterred. On the sixth day, driven by necessity and creativity, she decided to bury him within her own head. This act is metaphorically described as the origin of her crest, interpreted as her father's grave. The tale offers a poignant look at themes of loss, the struggle to honor one's ancestors, and the enduring spirit to find solutions even in seemingly impossible situations.

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The Lark (according to an ancient legend) was created before the earth itself, and when her father died, as there was no earth, she could find no place of burial for him. She let him lie uninterred for five days, and on the sixth day, not knowing what else to do, she buried him in her own head. Hence she obtained her crest, which is popularly said to be her father’s grave-hillock.