Three Truths

Another poem based on a Fulani folk story. Hey, I'm on a roll...

Three Truths

A hyena wandering in the bush
Did catch a young goat by its toe.
“Salaam Aleykum, Goat,” laughed he,
“Give me three truths and I'll let you go.”

“Aleykum athalaam,” said Goat
“I think I've got the firth thing:
If you were truly ravenouth
We wouldn't be converthing.”

“Extremely good,” Hyena laughed,
“I like your ready caprine wit,
But if you do not add two truths
You'll watch the sunset from a spit.”

“When you get home tonight,” said Goat
“And tell your kin the thtory,
They won't believe you met me here
Unleth the endingth gory.”

Hyena clapped his horny hands,
“Al Hamdilillalay,” he cried.
“Now just one truth to go, my friend,
You might still save your smelly hide.”

“Give me a thecond,” said the goat.
I know I'm going to get it -
Ah, yeth! - if you releath me now,
You'll thertainly regret it.”

“I won't deny,” Hyena laughed,
“I want to roast you to a crisp.
But you have spoken truth – go forth,
And madden others with your lisp.”

Lippety-clippety, off Goat ran,
But at dusk the smell still lingered,
Hyena moaned, “How could I let
Hors d'oevre slip through my fingers?”

And so, enraged by hunger pangs,
Hyena went in hot pursuit.
But Goat, he knew the desert well,
And chose a labyrinthine route.

“At Tinnakof Hyena fell,
He'd had a three-day run,
And to thith day his boneth are there,
A-laughing in the thun.”

Donkey Lore

Did you know: You will never see a donkey give birth, even if you herd donkeys for a living.

The Fulani of West Africa tell a story to support this claim. I put it into verse:

The Seeker

A seeker in an ancient desert land,
Determined to discover and lay bare
All nature's secrets, met a holy man
Renowned for wisdom, said, "Please tell me where
Your knowledge ends; I aim to understand
What lies beyond your dim myopic stare."
The hermit's bony shoulders shook with mirth;
He said, "I've never seen an ass give birth."

The seeker scoffed, continued on his way
And found a pregnant ass on which to prove
Man's greatness; he resolved that come what may
He'd follow her: “Forgive me, donkey, you've
Got company. I'll track you night and day
Until the birth; I'll match your every move."
The ass led northward, placid and resigned.
The seeker trotted earnestly behind.

He followed past exotic trees whose rare
Delicious fruits hung low along the track,
Ignored the smooth dark skin and shining hair
Of maidens beckoning from bivouacs.
He met a wild-eyed boy who wailed, "Beware
The dancing demons of the north - turn back!"
Yet neither fear nor lust nor greed could wrest
The seeker from his donkey-trekking quest.

Three days the donkey wandered, then at last
Lay panting on a dune; with deep delight
The seeker watched the beast, till sudden blast
Of wind and stinging sand obscured his sight
And made him cringe and stagger - when it passed
A scrawny foal lay blinking in the light.
Marvel at nature's intricate design,
Be humble, lest your hunt be asinine.

Blog Launch

I have a blog. I am happy about this, for now.

There is not much content, yet - just a poem about a man following a pregnant donkey through the desert. I promise to add more.

If you can´t wait, look at this.