Articles

Daniela Safrankova - Art Exhibition at Galerie U Zlateho Kohouta, Prague

Monday 1 June 2009

By Daniela Safrankova

Foxes in the Vineyard

Foxes in the Vineyard

 

 

Over the past year, in traveling with family and friends to different places, I’ve been inspired by vineyards: I’ve seen the Moravian vineyards in spring, mere sticks after trimming, I’ve seen the vineyards of Burgundy in the summer, leafy and green after bloom, on the Danube the Wachau hills heavy with fruit, decorated with golden leaves. And I’ve mused over the shivering vineyards of Grebovka, covered with snow.

 

In all of these places one sensed the satisfaction of a work well done, of the care taken of the soil and the vine, and of the vintner’s love of their wine.

 

“Catch for us the little foxes, lest they destroy the vines.

‘Your fears are premature, the time of the fruit has not yet come,’

No it is not so, our vineyard has already flowered.

And between the flowers and fruit there is no delay.”

 

What are these foxes doing in the vineyard anyway?

Are they driven by hunger, or by their lust for sweet grapes?

Or are they the temptresses of the good, unsuspecting old winemaker?

 

And why, in our famous Czech fable, was the fox trying to lure the boy, Budulínek, out of the house? To have him entertain her cubs?

To humiliate him? Destroy him? To eat him later? To give him a ride on her tail to the vineyard so he could pick the sweet grapes for her? The ones she cannot reach?

 

Her plan almost worked. But thanks to the little drum and the violin,

And the good hearts of his grandpa and grandma Budulinek did not become a shameless hooligan, An opportunist, or an empty person. The fox, scared of their goodness, not only did not reach the grapes, she also lost Budulínek and nearly her cubs,

And out of shame she claimed that the grapes were sour,

And she did not want them after all. Then she left the vineyard altogether.

 

And maybe little Budulinek became a winemaker or a painter,

Whatever he became, he grew up a man with integrity. So it’s not in vain, when in a pretty vineyard, to carry a little drum or a violin. And beware of the little foxes who may be among the vines.

 

Drive them out, before they eat you!

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