Adapted life
We have forgotten how to be good guests, how to walk lightly on the earth as its other creatures do – Barbara Ward.
Nne, Nne, nne, Nwa Ewu called (screaming his lungs out)
Your son calls for you, (Nweke the bearded he-goat signaled to Nne ewu).
Nwa m, what’s the problem she asked him
“If we are not goats what are we”?
She sat down looking confused because of the question Nwa ewu her son just asked
“Children of today and the questions they ask” (She mused)
Why are you asking me this strange question
You are the reason I raised the question ma.
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‘You taught me to eat grass saying every other thing is poison’
“Showed me the difference between two-legged men and we goats”
“You told me to hide from the wolves and be friends with the sheep’s”
Why are you doing what you said I shouldn’t do?
Nne ewu remained quiet for a while, wondering how best to answer this strange question
Nweke the bearded he-goat quickly excused himself claiming he had to check out some special grass down the valley
”Nwa m, sit down”
”Why are you asking this strange question”?
”I saw you yesterday eating a piece of paper”
“At another time, I noticed you chewed for long on a piece of plastic and swallowed it”
“Last night I observed you licking and scraping the paint off the wall”.
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”Nwa m nwoke, that’s adaptability feeding”
”Have you wondered why our ancestors the Dinosaurs became extinct”
”Men came and tampered with their lives and habitat”
”They stubbornly stood by the polluted watering holes and the burnt forests till hunger killed them”.
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”Adaptability feeding means finding new ways of eating and new things to feed on for survival ”
”It’s to eat what you see and hope not to die”
”It’s be a goat and live like a chameleon”
”Even if your beak gets bent like that of the parrot, adjust your feeding habits and survive”.
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”Nwa m, can’t you see that the grass is no more sweet because of the chemicals sprayed on it by men”
”Even the nutrients they give is no more complete because of too much fertilizer”
”Notice that we wander far to get good grass to eat and clean water to drink”
”Our coats are not as dark and glossy as our ancestor’s coats”.
”I eat papers and plastics so that you can have the little grass we find”
”I licked the paint so that I can fill my stomach with something to aid bowel movements and regurgitation”
”The Fathers died because they wouldn’t adapt
”I die daily so that you can live longer”. Ahuru m gi n’anya”. (I love you).
SELAH.
To read another Prose poem in the Nwa ewu series, click on this link Man – The enemy of creation.
Food for thought-
We owe it to ourselves and to the next generation to conserve the environment so that we can bequeath to our children a sustainable world that befits all – Wangari Maathai.
From what you have just read, what is your reaction or opinion? Let me have your comments in the comments section below.
18 Comments
KG · April 18, 2020 at 5:51 am
Adapting by human beings is a constant thing thing, if not nobody will survive. On a lighter note, Nweke the he goat will make good peppersoup and isi ewu. 😁😀.
Ovyay · April 18, 2020 at 5:53 am
Ha ha solid word of truth
Tunde Akinseye · April 18, 2020 at 11:45 am
We are living in a changing environment as such we must adapt to survive.
Ovyay · April 18, 2020 at 11:53 am
Yes o 👍
Ovis · April 18, 2020 at 6:08 am
We Have To Constantly Adapt To Our Constantly Changing Environs. Even Animals Develop New Abilities To Survive. This Goat Reference Is A Very Nice Illustration 🙂. Also, The Story Shows The Sacrifices Parents Have To Make That Children Don’t Understand. A Nice Piece 💪
Ovyay · April 18, 2020 at 6:21 am
Your words are so pure and honest. Thanks for this comment.
Bunmi · April 18, 2020 at 9:57 am
👌👌👌
Ovyay · April 18, 2020 at 11:31 am
🙏🙏🙏
David · April 18, 2020 at 11:29 am
What an allegory! Thanks for sharing sir.
Ovyay · April 18, 2020 at 11:30 am
You are welcome. I appreciate your commenting🙏🙏
ifeanyi anselem · April 18, 2020 at 1:30 pm
more wisdom by His grace
Ovyay · April 18, 2020 at 3:52 pm
Amen
Scientist 'tamborinist' · April 19, 2020 at 10:44 pm
Even the the microbes have changed,adapting every day.powerful words there………
Ovyay · April 20, 2020 at 3:09 am
You are right scientist tamborinist 🤣🤣
Anuoluwapo · April 25, 2020 at 12:29 am
Simple, we should always be flexible to be to suit any available situation and to all take care of mother earth so that we can enjoy peace. My take
Ovyay · April 25, 2020 at 4:58 am
You are right ✅
Kay · April 27, 2020 at 10:56 am
Change is constant!!! Adaptation is surely the key to survival! Thank you so much for this piece daddy. So many life nuggets. 🤔
Ovyay · April 27, 2020 at 4:08 pm
Amen ma