The reflection of a spirit

The sorrowful story about the birth of Yosemite's Mirror Lake

Today in Yosemite National Park, there is a beautiful lake. The lake is so clear and still, that the mountains reflect magnificently onto its mirrored surface, henceforth the lake is now named mirror lake. But the lake wasnt always there. the Ahwahneechee have lived in the valleys of Yosemite for many decades. One day a beautiful baby was born. She was the chief's daughter. He named her Pavati, after the crystal clear water falls he was very proud of. After 15 years Pavati was to find a partner. Finding an eligible man for her husband wasn't hard but she loved but only one, his name was Nipahe. He was as strong as the mountain, as gentle as the night sky. She invited Nipahem to sneak out of the village at night and meet her in a valley. He came and she told him about how much she loved him. But he didn't feel the same. He left her alone in the darkness of the valley. Pavati cried. She cried all the night. When she looked around her, eyes still blurry, and saw a great crystal clear lake before her that had formed from her many tears. The moon the mountains shined brightly in the reflection cast before her. Near the bottom of the reflection. She saw herself. In a trance Pavati slowly walked into the water. She couldn't swim nor breath underwater but she kept walking. She walked to the center of the lake, deep underwater, but her feet still on the sand. She felt her body melt away, it wasn't painful, but almost relieving. Pavati had died but her spirit lived within the glass like water. After two days Nipahem went looking for pavati but where he once stood with her, was a beautiful lake. The most beautiful he had ever seen. It was as beautiful as Pavati. A silent singing voice filled his ears and his body. Though he did not hear the voice he felt the voice and saw it within the water. The voice called to him. He was in a trance. The spirit of Pavati led him in to the depths of the lake where she could be with her love for ever. What used to be a dry valley began to bloom with trees and grasses of all kinds until it truly became a garden of Eden. Today we visit mirror lake and gase into the reflection of the strong mountains and gentle sky where Nipahem is trapped. As you look into your reflection in the lake you get filled with contentment and love because you are feeling Pavati's voice in the water.
Longing for Nipahem.