TEMPT ME NOT

TEMPT ME NOT What is thatWith neither handNor legBut goes to streamAnd fill the pot?Who drives flies awayFor the tailless cowThe monkey who lostIts tail huntingSuggested to othersTo cut off their tailsTo prevent being caughtThe coconut is happyWhere it standsAnd the tailless cowAccepts its fateListen notTo the monkeyBe contentedWith what you haveThe tempter hasMany tricks

— t. reflexion, Oct 04, 2008

About This Poem

About the Author

Country/Region: NGA

Favorite Poets: Inspired by an article in an old manuscript , It reads:, AXIOMS OF PERFECTION, In the physical order – In the realization of the dream of beauty, In the moral order – In the realization of the dream of love, In the intellectual order – In the realization of dream of poetry, In the spiritual order – In the realization of the dream of the mystics

Critiques

Eduardo Cruz

17 years 8 months ago

T.

I've heard this story before, when I was in the service, I spent some time in the middle east, It's a great story of of acceptance, and fate. I can"t remember the whole story I wish I could. thanks for reminding me of it, I haven't thought of it since the 70's. Very good write! Thanks, Eddie "if I trip on a can of beer, am I drunk?"

t. reflexion

17 years 8 months ago

I have been...

searching Ibibio folklore to see what I can get out to share with friends. The riddles are what I used to hear when I was a kid, while the story is also common amongst the south-south people of Nigeria. By bringing them together I attempt to project a philosophy of contentment in a society where crude oil exploration has made us crazy about money at the expence of moral rectitude. Thank you for stopping by. Best wishes.

infinite_dwarf

17 years 8 months ago

T.

Excellent lesson in acceptance. The only place where I got confused was where you brought a coconut in. I guess because I didn't quite understand how a coconut would ever be disgruntled on where its position in the tree was? Would love clarification, so I can understand it as you saw it. ~Jess K. ---------------------------------------------------- - "Everyone needs believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer!" - "Constipated people don't give a shit..."

t. reflexion

17 years 8 months ago

Jess K.

The coconut riddle is from Ibibio folklore. It expresses God wonders on how coconut gets its own water without taking a step. Though it is known that the cconut water comes from soil nutrients, but riddles like this were told to us, children, in the evening by elders when the moon was out. It was meant to make us think. I have tried to give an insight to Eddie. Thanks for stopping by. Best wishes. T.

infinite_dwarf

17 years 8 months ago

Cool!!

Hmm... have to do some studying up on that, as it sounds fascinating. Seeing the reference now, especially when paralleled to the opening line, is just bloody brilliant. Eddie - It was a natural progression for me... tailless cow may be unhappy about the flies -> armless person unhappy about difficulty of getting water -> monkey unhappy about tail loss -> coconut not happy about where it is in the tree. All except the monkey have accepted the cards that have been dealt. (giggles) you've wandered into unchartered territory again, my friend. X~D ~Jess K. ---------------------------------------------------- - "Everyone needs believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer!" - "Constipated people don't give a shit..."

Eduardo Cruz

17 years 8 months ago

Jess,

I love the way your thought process works, I almost fell out of my sit in laughter trying to imagine disgruntled coconuts trying to spilt our head from above, and in their falling lays the point, happy where they are.

Linda Moses

17 years 8 months ago

T

I like your riddles and forklore. This poem is the same thing as what my mother used to say. Be content with your lot in life.

t. reflexion

17 years 8 months ago

Thank you Linda

But the main challenge I have is in translating these folk tales into English without loosing the richness in diction, rhythm and rhyme. I appreciate your cooments. Best wishes. T.

Eduardo Cruz

17 years 8 months ago

T.

what I was told about the coconut, was used as a metaphor for life, be care on how you climb in life, remember that's how far you"ll fall. We have coconut trees in my Island home. So I just want to give you insight of our folklore, and depending on where you are in the world the coconut takes on a new way to be looked at, just try the south pacific, they have different folklore and poetry on the Coconut. Thanks, Eddie

Rett

17 years 8 months ago

Excellent write T

Wonderful tales and monkey tails. I really enjoyed this. Some of the old country folklore here is kinda neat also. Always interesting to see the tales and riddles from other parts of the world. Thank you. Respectfully, Rett: "We can all be thankful that Picasso wasn't a plastic surgeon." Rett