CASTLES IN THE SKY

after introductions and a round of spring water
the reichfuhrer led us to a garden that had a
commanding view of the valley and a distant
river . we gathered around a painting that sat
on an easel . the reichfuhrer told the following story

" in the days of my childhood i apprenticed
under my uncle to be an artist . he was quite
a taskmaster . the first year of my training
consisted only of the constuction of easels from
wood of trees we felled . the making of canvases
and the mixing of paints . yes my uncle was a
taskmaster and rightfully so

" at the end of my training we hiked to a neighboring
valley . the journey through forest and across a river
was very exciting to me . i carried a lunch of two loaves
of black bread fresh bratwurst and pickled cabbage
which had been prepared by my beloved aunt

" at our destination i was impressed by the sight of
a stone castle sitting upon a mountain side . after
our camp was set up i prepared our easels canvases
and the various paints . before starting he said to me

' adolph the artist has a responsibility . he is to create
an impression upon the viewer an impression that
provides an upliftment . never forget that '

" this painting is my first . it is of that castle . i attempted
to convey to the viewer the idea of a german state as
eternal and strong as the stones of that castle . a german
state of a thousand years "

we unanimously agreed the reichfuhrer had succeeded