Motionless Shantelle

Motionless Shantelle (The name Shantelle derives from the French meaning “stone, stony place) This is the story of girl called Ashima, a beautiful Yi maiden and her beloved Ahei Behind mountains in her own land of Shilin beneath the moon, beyond an azure sky yet another love story in twist of stars captivated a rose to a jagged numbness, to a human rock frozen in Forest of Stones*, hard and strong forever, unmoved, unchanged. Shimmering glassy eyes in shred of light, her blank stare still writhing in pain, her tears perhaps, washed away in rain. Feelings dont touch, a dungeon remains. A soul of stone, motionless Shantelle, drowned deep, in her own wishing well. A kerchief on her head, basket on her back Ashima, the legend, still stands there. awake in music of a dear lovesong, tethered in solitude , a life so unfair. 18th February 2020 Sponsor Julia Ward Contest Name Shantelle * Stretched in China's Yunnan province, the giant limestone pillars of the Shilin Stone Forest are sometimes called the "first natural wonder of the world," carved by rain, wind and seismic activity for millions of years. According to the legend of Ashima, one slender rock is actually the frozen figure of a young woman. When Ashima refused to marry the village leader’s son, Azhi, he decided to kidnap her. To win her back, Ashima’s love, Ahei, challenged Azhi to a singing contest. After 3 days and 3 nights of singing, Ahei finally won the contest and Ashima was released. But Azhi later drowned Ashima in a flood. She is believed to protect the Sani people, but more than that, she serves as a symbol of the power to choose who you marry, and of happiness. ( information taken from internet )