the struggle

 

The constant struggle for food is shared by man and beast alike.

my favorite image

 

Mongoose Parables #8

The charmer had only continued to tap the land for only a short time and suddenly the stick broke. It shouldn’t have broken but it did. The rod of justice between good and evil had broken! The dove was fluttering its feathers and cooing in distress. The cobra was twisting and turning about. The people as usual had not a clue as they continued their work, their dancing, their singing and their watching.

Mongoose Parable #7

The land formers were brought to settle the ground. They tapped the ground to speed up the time. They tapped for each other and the other danced. The megaphone was the strongest tapper. She tapped and everyone danced, with fear and care. The charmer also tapped and danced to others' tapping. The Mongoose knew it would turn into a simpering dog on the heels at midnight. The Mongoose knew it could dance. It knew it could tap for others. It tapped a bit for the people and they danced. It tapped even for the megaphone and she also danced. But the Mongoose knew it would turn into a simpering dog on the heels at midnight once she danced to the 100th tap of one stick. It would became a whining dog on the heels of even the most intolerant master. The mystery lay in the disparity between the mongoose and the people: they tapped and danced into the thousands.

Now, the mongoose had forgotten to take count of its hopping to the rhythm and the song of the charmer but calculated shrewdly that the rate drove the time of the 100th tap fairly near. Thus, a plan was devised in her head to delay if not circumvent the undesired mutation. She scribbled away, composing a drafted list of conditions and dates for the working of the building. The charmer received them well enough but slept fitfully and said but a few things. His desires were left to be discerned. His obedience was commendable...or perhaps disturbing. One had to wonder who tapped the stick and who danced to it. The Mongoose wished for a palette…a palette upon which both could paint parables and orate them to each other, orate them to the people, the people outside the walls and within the walls.

Mongoose Parable #6

The construction was delayed. The work crew sat wearily under the hot sun. The people gathered to watch. They stood on each others shoulders peering over the wall, through the barbed wire. Were they hopeful? Were they doubtful? Then the charmer spoke a parable to the mongoose and his work crew. When two irons are put to the fire, one will cut and one will be cut. The mongoose responded with another parable. When two yoked oxen pull a cart, it is more easily moved than a cart that is pulled with one ox. The people cheered and demanded the house to be built. The work crew groaned. The charmer fiddled with the ring that bound the cages to his staff. The mongoose considered how it would burrow a den outside the wall so it could live with the people. The people continued to stand on each others shoulders, peering over the wall, through the barbed wire. Were they hopeful? Were they doubtful? The megaphone came that day to put order to the project.

the tongue and the teeth

The tongue and the teeth reside under one roof. Despite their differences they can’t do without each other. If there are disagreements all things in the house suffer.

The parables that the Nigerians tell each other are amazing. This is one I encountered recently. I think my affinity to literalism and scientific explication are gone forever.

the rooster in pepe soup

Here I am back home cooking African rooster in African gingered soup. The ginger is my touch to traditional pepe soup.