The ostrich places
Her young in the open
Where the hawk kills
But the small bird marries
And beds her young
In a nest that's safe
Different in size, the two
In manners, wisdom
And sense are opposite
See how good sense
Is superior to strength
And think on it.
The elephant with large tusks
Grazes at night in land
Where the enemy hunts him
But the termite builds
The mound we see
Protects himself within it.
Different in size, the two
In manners, wisdom
And sense are opposite
See how good sense
Is superior to strength
And think on it.
Do you know the dikdik?
She digs at the dust
Buries her droppings
But does the lion conceal his?
The path to the watering hole
He stains with his dung.
Different in size, the two
In manners, wisdom
And sense are opposite
See how good sense
Is superior to strength
And think on it.
Xasan Sheekh Muumin (1931 - 2008) Somalia
Translated by Martin Orwin
Source: City Lore
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please keep your comments relevant and free from abusive language. Thank you. Note that comments are moderated so it may be a day or two before your comment is posted - irrelevant or abusive comments will not be published.