OKUN ELUBO / A ROPE OF YAM FLOUR

The youngsters wanted freedom from their duties and chores. While the wisdom of the king and the elders offer liberation for all.

An  excerpt  of  a  Yoruba tale.

 

 When I asked of you youngsters to make ' a rope of yam flour'. I gave you an impossible task. No one can make a rope of the type. No group or community can make such  a rope.The only way that you knew of a ' sample' of it, was through an elder. And there is no sample. When you made your complaints before me against the elders, you were asking me to sanction the impossible. You, and I, cannot live without  the elders. Just like a building cannot stand without its  foundation . The elders are the foundations, while you are the pillars. So, it  is  without   any  reservations  that   you  must  do  your  tasks and chores. For  you must render help and muster your energies to do for the elders. When you think back to when you were   little.. The elders were the ones that fed and clothed you . The same elders were  the ones that guided your first steps when you started to walk. Even, when you were sick and feverish, the same elders made sure that you recover   and  got  well. So, whatever your tasks or chores, do them with total devotion and diligence. You  must  approach  your  duties  with pride and love. Whatever  service  that   you  render  for  the elders  is only a token of  all  that  they  have  done  for  you. Finally, when the seasons change like  a  tree  turning  new  leaves, you are going  to  be  elders  yourself  in the natural  cycle of  life. And  your  wish   and  desire  would  be  that  your  own  children   do  their  tasks  and  chores. 

 

Reviews

[Warrior]

Great story telling. This did justice in the realm of getting the message across. Great message. There's lot of times where a story can have a great message to aim for, and have a lot of under lining things but then no one gets it, and if no one gets it, then the point has failed. But in my opinion this did well to get the message across. You made it clear, which is why I think it's good. Keep up the good work. What was also great was that I could imagine the story as I read it, and that is also a strong point of stories. The ability to have the reader imagine it because after all we're reading not watching it, but it was as if I was there as I read this, and that is great. Great visuals and great story telling. It had plot and substance. When you add substance to writing it gets that much better. It gets the reader hooked on it and make them feel as if they are part of it. As long as their is that emotional connection between the reader and the story then it's good. The connection you were able to established in the writing gives the reader a sense of comfortably that they are in tune with the writing. So that way when the writing is over, the reader wants more, and wishes it didn't end. I feel the same way when I watched a movie or tv series that I get so attached to, I never want it to end. And for this writing, I didn't want it to end. You had me hooked, and I am sure everyone else who read it was hooked as well. That is good, that is what you want for people to keep wanting more. The way you put the story together makes me feel like my life is different for that moment in which I read your story. I love it, and it was beautiful. Just keep posting stories like this, and you'll have a good following.