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ADDRESS: VICTORY ACADEMY, PLOT 7,KOLAWOLE CLOSE OFF
OLANREWAJU AGORO AVENUE, AKERODOLU ROAD,OLAMBE,OGUN STATENIGERIA.
PHONE NUMBERS: 2348036206620 2348091720303
PREFACE
the book The clay and the potter is a collection of poetries and facts which go beyond
human imagination yet, written to capture human reasoning. Its elements of education,
information and entertainment cannot be overemphasized as every part of this book eithereducates, informs or entertains.
This book also has the element of religion, politics, nature, romance and humanity. It is
written to touch every heart, either young or old. To stir a reaction into every readerrationally and irrationally.
Like the clay and the potter, it is not easy to attain height in life. Crude needs to be
refined before it becomes useful. So also is life. Life is not a bed of roses. Life is not a
pillow of comfort. Life is a struggle and only the rough can survive it.
This book reveals things around you that you may not know. Things you know but you
may not understand. Its extravaganza style is deliberately used to raise peoples
curiosity .knowing quite fully well that no one does it better than you, you determineyour life. Every challenge is to prompt your attention to something better.
The clay and the potter, who is the clay and who is the potter? Read and enjoy it!
CHAPTER ONE
THE SECREAT TREE IN THE FOREST
Many trees i know
But not the secret tree;
The tree that bringeth forth fruit and water
Nine trees I know so well
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But one is the greatest
The tree of life I know
The trees of peace and kindness
The trees of patience and endurance
The trees of long suffering and perseverance
The trees of love and joy
But a tree remains unknown
The tree more than herbs
The tree of success and prosperity
Is the tree of a thankful heart!
THE MYSTERY
Oh mystery!
The unremorseful being
The living of the spirit
The shadow of nil
Who can understand thee?
Thy work is marvelous and perplexed
Mystery works mysteriously,
And its work remains mysterious.
There are three things that are never satisfied;
Really, four things they are;
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The place of death,
The barren woman
The shallow ground
And a hot fire that cant be stopped
These are mysteries of life.
Oh mystery!
The extra-ordinary being!
Thou take thy path in the sparrow
And thy dwelling among the kings
Who can understand thee?
Thy deeds are puzzle and vivacious
Thou remain mysterious
As thou works mysteriously
There are three things that are hard to understand
Really, four things they are;
An eagle flying in the sky
A snake moving on a rock
A ship moving across the ocean
And a man in love with a woman\
These are mysteries of life
Oh mystery!
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The father of wonders!
The vulture of the wild bird
The most wanted
Who can understand thee?
Everyone hisses and hags at thee
All eyes are at thy work
There are three things that make trouble on earth
Really, four things they are;
A servant that becomes a king
A foolish person that has all he needs
A hateful and ugly lady that gives a man a sleepless night
And a slave girl that becomes a ruler over the woman she once served
These are mysteries of life
Oh mystery!
The most melodious moment!
All creatures propagate thy mystery
The most celebrated
Who can understand thee?
Thou make the wise foolish
And the foolish otherwise
Thou bless the poor mysteriously
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And the wealthy over their own heads
There are three things that are small
Really, four things they are;
Ants are small and weak
But they save their food at all summer
A badger is a small animal
But it makes its home in the rocks
Locust has no king
But have a kingdom
Lizards are small;
But they take their dwelling in the kings home
These are mysteries of life.
Oh mystery!
The being, yet unseen!
The best ever seen
The sparkling light in the dark
Who can understand thee?
Thou cause laughter in sorrow
Thou appreciate, yet depreciate
There are three things that act mysteriously
Really, four things they are;
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Lion, the king of the jungle
Who run away from nothing?
A rooster walking proudly
A bird screeching among vultures
And an ant who walks among the mighty.
These are mysteries of life.
UNIVERSAL PRICELESS GIFT
How precious it is to receive a priceless gift
A gift more than a sachet of myrrh
A gift that cannot be compared
With the finest apple in the orchard
A gift that leaps on mountains and bounds over the hills
The ribbon of scarlet
The banquet of flowers
The lily of the valley amidst thorns
How marvelous is the giver!
The squawking birds speaks of it
The navels, gablet and heap of wheat
The nard and saffron
Calamus and cinnamon
The cooing of the turtle dove
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The bounding of the fig tree
And the blossoming of the grapevines
Universal gift is priceless
Who can offer it?
Is there anyone in the firmament?
Who among the gods and immortal?
A gift higher than the outcrop on cliff
The generosity of man is limited it
The gift is LIFE.
EXTRAVAGANT PRAISE
Let all the living creature
Join this extravagant praise
While the sun or the light,
The moon or the star stands still
Let the trembling, echoing
And the shivering of his creatures
Praise His Mighty name
Or ever will the silver cord be loosed
And the golden bowl be broken at the stream
Or the wheel at the cistern
Or the jewels cease to sparkle
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And the gold looses its luster
Then, the throne becomes a prison
Let the trees in the forest
Lead the everlasting praise
The squawking birds are cymbals
The howling, screaming, snarling
And barking are trumpets
The whining of the horses are guitars
The crooning of the ducks are harps
The rumbling and clapping of thunders are percussion and bason
The rattling of chain and windows
Are violin and xylophones
The sounds and signs of man
The chattering, yawning, snoring, sighing, shrieking, gasping, panting,
Moaning, groaning, muttering, snapping, whispering, rumbling,
Chuckling, whistling, sniffing, choking, grunting, yelping
Are musical instruments
Come, join in this extravagant praise
A soul of praise is more than a soul of entertainment
A soul connected in His praise
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Is more than the best connection
The power in His praise
Is more than the power of television
The gift of His star
Is more than reaching the star
Let the living creatures
Praise the creator
For their nature and nomenclature
And for the noble numinous nurture of the creator
Let all that is in me
Praise Him in the beauty of His holiness
THE RIGHT WAY
I took the wrong way as the right
And He said But the way is beautiful
The field is full of fresh grasses
The sky is all clear and bright
But He is still on His words,
You are wrong
I said, They are not for you
I said, The food is fresh and delicious
But He said, They are not for you
I said, Great people are eating it
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But He said, It leads to destruction
I said, I shall miss the light
But He said, not the everlasting light
I said, I shall miss my friends
But He said, It is for your good
I said, Arent we going to see the light?
And He said, You shall be forever with me
Just go through the right path.
IKU
From the antom of grandeur
Loosing its gravity of velocity
Passing across the wild firmament
Moving unto the Diaspora
Predestination of the whole wide world
Playing in zigzag direction
Whose rain rains radiantly
And thunder clapping violently
The sea storm becomes a cinema
Carrying its watchers as captives.
A man made object becomes unpremeditated
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The road takes no tiles but blood
Whose optimism is pessimistic
The man paradox of human existence
Man who trainee who asks for the eyes of trainer
The aircraft leading to the death of the craft man
Whose carcass sprinkles all over the earth
And left for the scavengers.
He is popularly known as IKU
Whose bread is over buttered
His deeds over pampered
Whose action remains ignominious
It takes no money but life
Taking away the beloved
The unwanted visitor
An intruder
He knocks but no one opens
His voice troubles the earth
But his call everyone must answer
IkU!
THE IRREVERSIBLE
The age of beast may be upon us
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Where an intellectual giant
Becomes morally dwarf
His brain has sworn-his heart is shrunken
It lays in deep below the ice-cap
Draw near to mysteries of life and death
A companionship of fear, hatred and murder
Like a child with a gin powder
And a matchet as toy.
In black ink her lover for enthusiasm shines
Patriotism is out of date
She scorns the home she belongs to
And sneers at the land that gave her birth
Whose bread she has eaten
Her sweat, tears, she has shared
Her moral birthright for materialism
The present malaise
The future controversy
Illness lies upon her patriotic desire
She is sick unto death
But it can be cured
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Cancer is not coolly wobbles
It needs more than a surgeons knife
It is traitorous to raise such issue
The craftsmanship in industry
Cleanliness from top to bottom
Absolute standard from castle to cottage
From pip to palace
Painting every nation green and white
Her idea of master race
Leading to discussion dissolution
The steel of selfishness of the right
Creates steel of bitterness of the left
Men who fight class war today
Not regarding the cruel race of yesterday
Under the curiosity of the gold digger
With fall in the quality of goods
For many the few
For few the many
Whose labor is divided between the
Them and Us
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The Them is capitalized
The Us has nothing to do with capitalism
But class-consciousness in the Marxian sense
Listen to the call of the nature
So anxious to pay back
The runaway runs into its net
Arresting the above the law
Turning glittering into glimmering
So zealous to establish justice
She stands firms et the gate
With weapon and ammunition
An actor of genius
Giving fairness to measurement
And absoluteness to humanity
THE LITTLE BOY IS HERE
The little boy of Bethlehem
The least of the Jesses
The sheep shepherd
An handsome, healthy, young man
Having a sparkling eye
The heap player
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The greatest musician
The able and bold
The little boy is here
To tackle the old fool
Gathering with many fools at shocoh
Pitching between Schocoh and azekah
The little man of God
In the valley of Elah
Settling battles in array
The locust before beast
Too terrible to confront
But the little boy is here.
The foes stood on a mountain
A valley lies between them
Here comes
The best among their best
The failed champion
He is of Gath
Whose height six cubits and a span
Held helmet of brass upon his head
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Armed with a coat of mail
Which weight five thousand shekels of brass
He wears greaves of brass upon his head
A target of brass between his shoulders
The Staff of his spear
Like a weavers beam
The old fool is here
To torment the little men of God
The old, hag fool
Standing before the battle line
Bragging upon his armor
Thinking It is by power or might, weapon or multitude
To fight a battle of great memo
And the little innocent lad
Whose brothers terrified in battled
Took to his brothers fare
And to their pledge
Though he has come of their fare
For the battle hes really here
The little hero
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The least but great
With his bear hands
Killed he lion and bears
Caught by their beard
Smote, slew and slaughtered
Hes armed with armor
A helmet of brass upon his head
And a coat of mail
He girded his sword
Lo, too heavy they are
He left his armor
He took his staff and sting
He chooses five smooth stones
Out of the brook
And a shepherd bag
Am I a dog? asked the old fool
A dog he r4eally was
Only a stone on his forehead
The old fool is gone
His carcass for the birds
The little boy is here
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To face the old fool.
WEEP NO MORE
Indeed you are old
The passage of time has rolled over you
In your thought you are buried
Though you live
Your soul is gone
Your bowel lies beneath
And your conceit above the mortal
Money you do not ask
Cloth you do not need
Your needs far from man it lies
You look at thy mate
You hope in mortal for joy unfolding
But disappointment you ever received
You resigned into weeping
But weeping cant give you joy.
You are old
Yes, you are old
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You are lost in hope
Forgotten and mocked on earth
And tears tender no help
Mortal, your mockers are
For fortune flies like sparrow
Filling the vacuum of the faithful
Though today you weep
Tomorrow you weep no more.
Your bowels with joy shall full
Your tree shall bear its fruits
Like the stars in the sky
Your joy shall know no bounds
And your tears far forgotten.
I AM NO WASTE TO MAN
Though to and music retired to rest
Tormenting into earth of dust
Though I work, I couldnt walk
With pains unfolding on me
Though to and fro I come
I hardly have my way.
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Though to and fro I come
But delay I obey to relay
And time overpasses my will to come
When the time comes no more
On finger I feed to regret
Though to and fro I come
Today I make no day.
Though to and fro I come
But music stirs on my soul to sing to sing
To do strange immortal work
What able cannot do
An angel in disguise I am
Though to and fro I come
I am no waste to man
BELIEVE AND NOT RELAX
There are many paths to fame
There are many means in life
Your dream unrealistic it looks
Your burning desire too hot to quench
One thing you need to need to do
Believe and not relax.
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Great people around you are sands
Moulded to fix their lots
To do things extraordinary
Great achiever of all time
You too can be one
Believe and not relax
Truly, genius around you abroad
Bragging in their garments of wealth
Though lousy they are
You too can be a genius
Believe and not relax
Dont resign to fate
Your Achilles heels are no special
All men are born with stigma
A flaw no dust can explain
Dont give up to fight
Believe and not relax.
Seven days a night full hour
Thy bone is strong
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Thither thou not thy time to waste
Lest thou teel with a grey hair
You can achieve all today
Believe and not relax.
A star you dream to become
To be sung in the barrack of locusts
Echoes by the wit and feeble
All in this ball
Surely you shall leave it for the call
With nothing you come
With nothing you shall go.
THE VERDICT
You area safe prisoner
How you wished you gone
To the silent home of your ancestors
You await your executioner.
You seize your breath to recount
Your eyes each day unrest
Detecting every sound of feet
You think its executioner
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Time has passed and gone
Be not dismayed
That you have no executioner
Your blood on no one shall be
Hopeless and lifeless you have become
Your love is gone
It soars solemnly in your vein.
After all, you caused your verdict
In evil you took your pride
Now that you are called to justice
Your soul begs for repentance
THE RAINFALL
The absence of light
Causes laughter to the earth
The cloud full of smile
With showers upon the earth
The pregnant mother of the season
To deliver as planned by the celestians
All things are its sources
Its a night rainfall of splendor!
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The grain is dry
The ban is empty
The field is grey
Tortured by the hotness of the day
But when it rains
The grain blessed,
The ban full of refreshments
And the grey field becomes green.
Your transgression tempest to tempt
Like the fiery furnace
You think it would never end
You are nothing but ignorant
Like the heavy rainfall in August
Your joy shall full
Blow your trumpet higher than high.
To come it is one thing
To other it is another
Their Abel Cain he met
Their Esau Jacob is companion
Whatever the circumstance
Whatever the scenario
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Its time for rainfall
THE COCKROCH
You appear and disappear
A creature with six lives
You never thought you mighty die
With your several victories
In the day you hide they treasure
At night you have they pleasure
On valuable you feed
You are a worst spoiler
Oh incarnated being
Although you often disappear
You are ever visible
You are mammoth of deep regret
I will tell you thing to come
On camphor you shall let it go
Your power to destroy
To shatter and to scatter
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You shall not die once
Slowly you shall let it go
Your life no use to man
Neither useful to you.
Little ants shall feed fat on you
Your carcass shall be shared
Your biggest thigh
Belongs to the least of locust
A creature with six lives you are
Like a cat with nine lives
You will lose them all
To your least unexpected.
GET UP AND RUN
Your soul is tired
Tired from your turbulent effort
Like a race distanced from man
Its a grueling test of heart
Of mind and of body
Though you are geared at
Dont lose your sight
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Not the day of the race
Nor the hour of the journey
Its only your ultimate test
Youre several miles short
Energy within you dredges up
Its not just the going
Its not just the running
Its not just the race
It s the treasure ever promised
Though you fall but not as destined
Though you fall
But not as a failure
You can rise again
To the race untimely stopped
You are not alone
Within you is your sprit
All effort expended is not gone
It awaits fruition fruitfully fulfilling
All you need to do
Get up and run
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THE CLAY AND THE POTER
Yes, I wasnt like this
Then, I was just a cold
Hard lump of clay
But one day a change i tasted
Then, I was just a cold
Hard lump of clay
But one day a change I tasted
Then, I was far noticed
By men of great expenditure
But he picked me up and he said
I could do something with this
In me was pressure prevailing
To change my rag of shape
It was too much to bear
I said, It hurts, stop!!
Furious I was when he said,
Not yet
I was laid to rest for several hours
Thinking it is over
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But he said,
On a wheel I was kept
Around and around and around
He spanned me and I said
Let me off
Very stubborn he really was
And he replied,
Not yet
Suddenly, I noticed
I was a cup
And kept in a hot oven
Too painful, it really was
I shouted,
Let me be
As stubborn as a goat
He said,
Not yet
I couldnt bear it any longer
I screamed
Im suffocating, Im in hell
But at me he stirred and said,
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Not yet
I felt a sparkle of joy
When he loose on me
It is finished, I thought
But I was bathed with rainbow
Too often to weep again
Im back to the hell
And I said,
I cant stand it any longer
As before as he always being
He said,
Not yet
At last,
I was placed on the shelf
Held up before the mirror
Waooh!
Im now a beautiful tea cup
That everyone wants for treasure.
CHOOSE YOUR OWN WAY
A plight nor a pledge
To part with the path
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Neither broken, bowed nor bitter
The least of human freedom
Set amidst of thorns
The terrorists will never conquer
On a path too crooked to bear
For ransomed, redeemed and restored
A multiple sclerosis
A pain in the ass it is.
The part is too cloudy
Too dark to the darkness of carnal
A leopard sticks to its colour
The awesome of light
An earliest disposition
Many paths appears before you
A path where three feet meet
The T-Junction of life
Trickish and delicate
A true path with many feet not good for you
Too perilous though broad it looks
In thy heart, a plug of truth
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Saying your choice good to choose
Follow your heart and choose your way
THE GODDESS OF LUCK
Mind, truly frazzled with worry
In all strata of society
Drawing all men to itself
Whoever crosses its path
It gladly regards
Turn down within you
A begrudging, resentful attitude
A shoddy workmanship
Horror of humor and resiliency
Too reluctant to see the light
Out of your wordless sigh
Your aching groans within
Protect your time
Be wise to see the truth
Its only foolish to be a fool.
Once it appears in the sky
Twice it reveals its beauty
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Thrice are its regrets if not taken
Be mindful of its era
With time it soon disappear
The goddess of luck
Not for the gambler
Not for the feeble
Not for the spend thrift
But for those quick and smart.
PAIN OFFERS PROOF OF LIFE
You lay dead, hopeless and selfless
A dozen more pains of life
Wounded and bruised in hearth
You have heard this thing
A pain offers proof of life
You have heard, seen and read
The word of eternal life
Youve heard this
You ll get past it
It only offers proof of life
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You feel always depressed
Too mean, too cold, too light
You come across this line
That grief melts away like snow
A pain offers proof of life.
Though grief smoothened thee
Like an avalanche
It will melt away
Like snow, it comes back to fierce
Its only a proof of life
The unexpected way
Triggered by a sound
A fragmented of memory
Cling to that little fact
A pain offers proof of life
FRAGMENT OF TIME
You could rarely see
The odd time of days
As far as first century
When things carried up in vain
And eaten up by tick darkness
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Its only a fragment of life
Its only a fragment of heart
Its only a fragment of time.
Your destiny as good as goose
Unless you know the truth
Unless you know the way
Unless you have the might
Its as good as nothing
Eaten up by fate
Judged by imprudence
Its only a fragment of life
Its only a fragment of heart
Its only a fragment of time
You can read the tracts
You can read the book
How boldly it is fondly written
Burn out of a death silence
Passing through the grave of life
Yes, you have fallen
You have fallen like a failure
You have failed to know the truth
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You have missed your path
Its only a fragment of life
Its only a fragment of heart
Its only a fragment of time
Yes, life was and is unfair
Justice was passed to the silent grave
Drinking from an endless stream
Where all shall drink
From a cup bitterly sweet
Unless you know the truth
You may not see the light again
Its only a fragment of life
Its only a fragment of heart
Its only a fragment of time
The best of time is time itself
We all have it but we dont own it
Like a vain pilot
We are lost in the smoke
Like a vain traveler
We are strangers in deadly jungles
This world is a threat
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Sixty seconds do not make a minute
It isnt twenty-four hour a day
Seven days do not make a week
Twelve months do not make a year
Consider this truth
A day is like a thousand year
Do not sit and count the star
Do not watch the rolling of the day
Make the best out of it
Its only a fragment of life
Its only a fragment of heart
Its only a fragment of time.
CHRISTIANA
I ll call your name
Oer and oer
I ll call your name
Until my mouth fadeth off
CHRISTIANA
Like a star in the blue sky
Your beauty too captivating
Though, afro-cultural you are
Your meat is fresh
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Like those in the white house
CHRISTIANA
You are my princess
My treasure and my pleasure
CHRISTIANA
Youre a habitat for my heart
A blossom for my soul
Im lost in your love
Blind, mad and gone
CHRISTIANA
The black knotted dot on your cheek
The celestial full stop
Is irresistible, too irresistible
As if God has made it
To put men in trouble
Ill kiss it time oer time
CHRISTIANA
Your lips like FIFA world cup
Im your league champion!
Im yours
Youre mine
Like two pairs of shoes
Two pairs of trouser
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Two petty pairs of dolphin
Two pairs of compass in its circus
Two pairs of cufflinks in its coffin
We remain inseparable
CHRISTIANA
Though, sea and ocean
Two deadly foes
No matter how deep
No matter how wide
They can not wash away our love
CHRISTIANA
Youre the source of my joy
The joy of my time
CHRISTIANA
Ill compose a song for you
Ill sing it before men and angels
One thing we have in common
One thing we share as one
Once, twice, thrice to infinity
Our love,
Our passion,
Our joy,
Our commitment
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CHRISTIANA
Beauty is your other name
Think about this line
We are born to live
We live to make an impact
Not to depart
Not to be isolated
Not to be missed
But one day we shall leave
This adventure
This open market of men butchers
Our soul shall soar
To the eternal home of glory
For there we have come
For there we shall return
CHRISTIANA
Here is the truth
Love is neither blind nor mad
Only those who fall in love
Are mad, blind and gone
Im one!
CHAPTER TWO
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DO YOU KNOW: A test of knowledge?
Do you know the stars in the sky?
There can only be one sun at a time. Never obscure the sunlight, or rival the sun
brilliance; rather, fade into the sky and find ways to heighten the master stars intensity!
Do you know the jaws of ingratitude?
Knowing what will happen if you put a finger in the mouth of a lion, you will stay clear
of it. With friends, you will here no caution and if you hire them, they will eat you alive
with ingratitude!
Do you know a sheeps skin?
A sheep never marauds, a sheep never deceives, a sheep is magnificently dump and
docile. With a sheep skin on his back, a fox can pass right into the chicken coop!
Do you know mine fill of diamonds and Rubies?
You dug for it, you found it, and your wealth is now assured. Guard it with your life.Robbers and thieves will appear from all sides. Never take your wealth for granted, and
constantly renew it. Time will diminish the jewels, luster and bury them from sight!
Do you know the limelight?
The actor who steps into this brilliant light attains a heightened presence. All eyes are on
him.
There is room for only one actor at a time in the limelights narrow beam; do whatever it
takes to make yourself its focus. Make your gestures so large, a musing, and scandalous
the lights stay on you while the actors are left in the shadows!
Do you know the Dance of the veils?
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The veils envelop the dancer. What they reveal causes excitement. What they conceal
heightens interest. The essence of mystery!
Do you know the vulture?
Of all the creatures in the jungle, the vulture has it the easiest. The hard work of othersbecomes his work; their failure to survive becomes its nourishment. Keep an eye on the
vulture; while you are hard at work, he is circling above. Do not fight him, join him!
Do you know the honeyed bear trap?
The bear hunter does not chase his prey. A bear that knows it is hunted is nearlyimpossible to catch and is ferocious if cornered. Instead, the hunter lays trays baited with
honey. He does not exhaust himself and risk his life in pursuit. He baits, and then waits!
Do you know the sea-saw?
Up and down and up and down go the arguers, getting no where fast. Get off the sea-saw
and show them youre meaning without kicking or pushing. Leave them at the top and letgravity bring them gently to the ground!
Do you know that there is a need to recognize the fortunate so that you may choose their
company and the unfortunate so that you may avoid them? Misfortune is usually thecrime of folly, and among those who suffer from it there is no malady more contagious.
Never open your door to the last of misfortunes, for if you do, many other will follow in
its train...does not die of anothers misery!
Do you know that it is good to make people depend on you?
More is to be gained from such dependence than courtesy. He who has slaked his thirst,
immediately turns his back on the well, no longer needing it. When dependencedisappears, so does civility and decency, and then respect. The first lesson which
experience should teach you is to keep hope alive but never satisfied, keeping even a
royal patron ever in need you!
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Do you know the Trojan horse?
Your guide is hidden inside a magnificent gift that proven irresistible to your opponent.
The walls open. Once inside, wreak havoc!
Do you know the third Eye of the spy?
In the land of the two-eyed, the third eye gives you the omniscience of a god. You see
further than others, and you see deeper into them, nobody is safe from the eye but you!
Do you know a cord that bind?
The cord of mercy and gratitude is threadbare, and will break at the first shock. Do youthrow such a lifeline? The cord of mutual self interest is woven of many fibres and cannot
easily be served. It will serve you well for years!
Do you know that a viper crushed beneath your foot but left alive, will rear up and bite
you with a double dose of venom? An enemy that is left around is like a half-dead viperthat you nurse back to health. Time makes the venom grow stronger!
Do you know that the sun can only be appreciated by its absence?
The longer the day of rain, the more the sun is craved. But no many hot days and the sun
overwhelms. Learn to keep yourself obscure and make people demand your return!
Do you know the cyclone?
A wind that cannot be foreseen. Sudden shifts in the barometer, in-explicable changers in
direction and velocity. There is no defense. A cyclone sows terror and confusion!
Do you know the fortress?
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High up on the hill, the citadel becomes a symbol of all that is hateful in power and
authority. The citizens of the town betray you to the first enemy that comes. Cut off from
communication and intelligence, the citadel falls with ease!
Do you know the Hunter?
He does not lay the same trap for a wolf as for a fox. He does not set bait where no onewill take it. He knows his prey thoroughly, its habits and hideaways, and hunts
accordingly. Act like the hunter1!
Do you know the virgin queen?
The center of attention, desire, and worship. Never succumbing to one suitor or the other,the virgin queen keeps them all revolving around her like planets, unable to leave her
orbit but never closer to her!
Do you know a Thicket of shrub?
In the forest one shrub latches on to another, entangling its neighbor with its thorns, the
thicket slowly extend its impenetrable domain. Only what keeps its distance and standsapart can grow and rise above the thicket!
Do you know the Opossum?
In playing dead, the opossum plays stupid. Many a predator has therefore left it alone.
Who could believe that such ugly, unintelligent, nervous little creature could be capable
of such deception?
Do you know an Oak tree?
The oak tat resists the wind loses its branches one by one and with nothing left to protect
it, the trunk finally snaps. The oak that bends lives longer, its trunk growing under itscoots deeper and more tenacious.
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Do you know the Arrow?
You cannot hit two targets with one arrow. if your thought stray, you miss the enemysheart. Mind and arrow must become one. Only with such concentration of mental and
physical power can your arrow hit the target and pierce the heart.
Do you know the Greek sea-God Proteus?
His power came from his ability to change shape at will, to be whatever the moment
required. When Menelaus, brother of Agamemnon, tried to seize him, Proteus
transformed himself into a lion, then a serpent, a panther, a boar, running water andfinally, a leaf tree!
Do you know the cats paw?
It has long claws to grab things. it is soft and padded. Take hold of the cat and use its paw
to pluck things out of the fire, to clay your enemy, to play with the mouse before
devouring it. Sometimes you hurt the cat, but not often it doesnt feel a thing!
Do you know the magnet?
An unseen force draws objects to itself, which in turn become magnetized themselves,
drawing other pieces to them, the magnetic power of the whole constantly increasing. Buttake away the original magnet and it falls apart. Become the magnet, the invisible force
that attracts peoples imaginations and holds them together. Once they have clustered
around you, no power can wrest them away!
Do you know the lion and the hare?
The lion creates no gaps in his way. His movements are too swift, his jaws too quick and
powerful. The timid hare will do anything to escape from danger, but in its haste to
retreat and flee, it backs into traps, hops smack into its enemies jaws.
Do you know that the God on mount Olympus is looking down on human actions from
the clouds; they see in advance the ending of all great dreams that lead to disaster and
tragedy. And they laugh at our inability to see beyond the moment, and at how we delude
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ourselves?
Do you know the Racehorse?
From up close we would see the strain, the effort to control the horse, the labored, painful
breathing. But from the distance where we sit and watch, it is all gracefulness, flying
through the air. Keep others at distance ant they will only see the ease with which youmore!
Do you know the Horns of the Bull?
The bull backs you into the corner with its horns-not a single horn, which you might be
able to escape, but a pair of horns that trap you within their hold. Run right and run left ineither way you move into their piercing ends and are gored!
Do you know the moon?
Unattainable, always changing shape, disappearing and reappearing. We look at it,
wonder, and pine never familiar, continuous provoker of dreams. Do not offer the
obvious, promise the moon!
Do you know the crown?
Place it upon your head and you assume a different pose tranquil yet radiating assurance.Never show doubt, never lose your dignity beneath the crown, or it will not fit. it will
seem to be destined for one more worthy. Do not wait for a coronation, the greatest
emperor crown themselves!
Do you know the Hawk?
Patiently and silently, it circles the sky, high above, all seeing with its powerful eyes.
Those below have no awareness that they are being trapped. Suddenly, when the momentarrives, the hawk swoops down with a speed that cannot be defended against; before its
prey knows what has happened, the birds viselike talons have carried up into the sky!
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Do you know the Tiny Wound?
It is small but painful and irritating. you try all sorts of medicaments, you complain, you
scratch and pick at the scrab. Doctors only make it worst. Transforming the tiny wound
into a grave matter. If only you have left the wound alone, letting time heal it and freeingyourself from worry!
Do you know the Black Sheep?
The herd shuns the black sheep, uncertain whether or not it belongs with them. So itstraggles behind, or wanders away from the herd, where it is cornered by the wolves and
promptly devoured. Stay with the herd, there is safety in numbers. Keep your difference
in your purse and not in your fleece!
Do you know the pond of fish?
The waters are clear and calm and the fish are well below the surface. Stir the water and
they emerge.stay it some more an they get angry rising to the surface biting whatever thatcomes near, including a freshly baited hook!
Do you know the river?
To protect yourself or to safe the recourse, you dam it up soon, however, the water
becomes dank and pestilent. Only the foulest forms of life can live in such stagnant
waters, nothing travels on them, all commerce stops. Destroy the dam when water flowsand circulates, it generates abundance, wealth, and power in ever larger circles. the river
must flow periodically for good tidings and to flourish.
Do you know a flock of fatted sheep?
Do not waste precious time, trying to steal a sheep or two; do not risk life and limb by
setting upon dogs that guard the flock. Aim at the shepherd. Lure him away and the dogs
will follow his footstep. Strike him down and the flock will scatter. You can pick themoff one by one!
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Do you know the cat?
Creature of habit, it loves the warmth of the familiar. Upset its routines disrupt its space,and it will grow unmanageable and psychotic. Placate it by supporting its rituals. If
change is necessary, deceive the cat by keeping the smell of the past alive; place objects
familiar to it in strategic locations!
Do you know the Garden of Weeds ?
You may not feed them but they spread as you water the ground. You may not se how,
but they take over, tall and ugly, preventing anything beautiful from flourishing.
Before it is too late, do water indiscriminately. Destroy the weeds of envy by giving themnothing to feed on.
Do you know the mercury?
The winged messangerp, god of commerce, patron saint of thieves, gamblers and all
those who deceive through swiftness. The day mercury was born, he invented the lyre; by
that evening he has stolen the cattle of Apollo. He would scour the world, assuming
whatever form he desires. Like the liquid metal made after him, he embrided the elusive,the ungraspable, the power of formlessness.