MONDAY COWRIES

MONDAY COWRIES Take in your handFour cowries and prayNo…it is a taboo…Do not give back without an offerThe palm must not return emptyYes…I can see over your headThere is an opening somewhereA wide opening, it is coming to youThe one, who tries to block it, will fail Four placed against tenOne stood outRemaining nineThree in three placesThe cowries spokeDoubt doubled its hold on the mindWhether success would comeSay no to fear of failureAnd of tears of regrets The opening passage will stayIt will not be closedExcept by him who opened itA prominent sign revealedTwo women struggling for oneThe one with the offer will winThe cowries spoke of charityIn ritual blessing and cleansingTo give soap to a pregnant woman And after the purge, to take a stepBreak an egg at a junctionTo take only the yolk outWithout spilling the whitish partFor all would be well and offer bigThe cowries only speak by signsAnd by the way you throw themFor the seeing eyes of the cowriesSee only for others, not for themselves

— t. reflexion, Feb 11, 2010

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

t. reflexion

16 years 3 months ago

I am waiting...

Thanks for the nomination and for taking time to read this piece, which I think, has the same outlook like 'Prayer Assignment To Conquer', an earlier post. For your time on Trex, I appreciate, thanks and best wishes. T.

t. reflexion

16 years 3 months ago

Appreciation

Yes, cowries referred to here are tropical shells used in former times as a means of exchange – money. This particular type is white. It is still in use for divination in some quarters in African traditional religion. This is what the poem is dealing with. Sorry, I tried to paste a picture of a cowrie in my collection but it didn't stick. I don't know how I can send you a picture of it. The diviner gave out four cowries to the supplicant to speak to, then returned them. The total number of cowries in use here are ten. One faced down and nine faced up. How they are interpreted when thrown to the floor together by the diviner is their best kept secret. Depending on the number facing up against the ones facing down, they read their meanings, I really don’t know. Your interpretation of these scribbles is very good. The women here are supposed to be the ones in the man’s life as at the time. It means the one who wins his heart is the one with true love. Thank you for your appreciation of this write and best wishes. T.

Ravenshakti

16 years 3 months ago

Hello T...

I love this one...It took me on a magick journey... I felt like I was right there...part of it all. Simply beautiful... Thank you. Gentle regards, Raven

t. reflexion

16 years 3 months ago

Raven Dear...

Yes, it is a magical journey, but the irony is, we also have this same scenario in some churches in this part of the world. Check 'Prayer Assignment...', an earlier post. The difference is, they belong to opposing camps, but doing the same thing. Thank you and best wishes. T.