The Dorset Giant
He hides in full sight, his noble profile surveying the vast ocean. He has seen blood on this beach, the bludgeon and greed of the smugglers’ grim craft; ship wrecks and battles of sea and sky.
Today he yawns a dripping cave and winks a grass-fringed sleepy eye to the toddler who plays on the sand below. The seabirds bring him news of his cousins the clouds, his brethren the rivers and valleys, but for now he slumbers. For he knows, all this will pass and one day he will rise again and reclaim the land that is rightly his.
M J Lewis ©2015
Dorset is truly heaven on Earth, so thank you Sandra for your photo for this week’s Friday Fiction, and thanks to Rochelle for educating us, entertaining us and uniting us all as ever.
If you’re ever down Dorset way check out the Moonfleet Manor Hotel, not that I can afford those prices. The novel of the same name (Moonfleet by John Meade Falkner) is the classic smugglers tale, but I prefer the gothic brilliance of Daphne Du Maurier’s Jamaica Inn. (NOT the awful Hitchcock film!)
One day I will return to Dorset as a seagull and live on chips and cream teas. Click here for more fiction from around the globe.
MJL Stories 
I really like this, the language and the landscape, the cave a mouth… yes there are a lot of things to like.. I didn’t know it was Dorset, but the first thing I saw in the picture was smugglers and wreckers… 🙂
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Thanks Bjorn. The landscape of Dorset is beautiful – not as dramatic or extreme as some parts of the world but very much of this isle.
And as to smugglers and wreckers – the very words produce a shiver!
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I didn’t know that it was Dorset, but to me the image immediately said smugglers and wreckers..
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I can feel your love for this piece of the earth. Lovely descriptions.
Lily
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Thank you Lily. Perhaps you’ll be tempted to visit Dorset one day.
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You just never know. I might!
Lily
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Beautiful emotive language 🙂 I feel the need to go hug the ocean.
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An interesting idea! The Dorset sea is a bit cold this time of year. Thanks for the visit.
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🙂 the sea where I am is around 20’DC at the moment and with having 30-35’DC days it’s a welcome relief.
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Wonderful how you give character to the landscape.
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Thanks Mick. I’m a South Londoner these days, but I’ve always loved the Dorset landscape.
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The descriptive phrases worked extremely well. Good job.
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Thanks Sandra, and thanks for the great photo!
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Clever piece of writing.
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Glad you enjoyed it.
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Dear Miranda,
Picturesque piece with vivid descriptions. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle. You’ll have to visit us one day and stay at the a amazing Moonfleet Manor Hotel.
I did enjoy the emotional and educational journey of your Thanksgiving tale.
Miranda
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Love the idea of the family, and hope he isn’t too vengeful.
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Interesting – I don’t see him as vengeful. Thanks for visiting.
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The tale of the sleeping giant is really powerful, I love every word of this (needless to say that I stared at the picture and tried to find his features 😀 ). Wonderful imaginative story, and a beautiful tribute to a place you obvously love very much.
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I think some people can see him – the ones with good imaginations, like the children on the beach. 🙂
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Some beautiful imagery here. Well done.
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Thanks Laura.
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Such a lovely story! I love the idea of this.
I had a quick look at that hotel. It is a bit pricey isn’t it!
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Perhaps a bit of smuggling on the side to finance a visit? I just love the ‘fantastic blend of colonial-feel furnishings and stylish modernity’ plus there’s a dog you can take for a walk.
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Beautifully described. I often look at mountains and bluff lines and see their faces. You know they’ve been there thousands of years and have plenty of stories to tell. Well done.
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I love how you used the language and descriptions to bring life to the land and sea. 🙂
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As Russell said, they’ve been here longer than us and have stories to tell that will outlive us all.
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Well written, MJ. It sounds like a classic fairy story or myth. The place sounds lovely. Thanks for the book suggestions. Well done. 🙂 — Suzanne
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