the clay and the potter

8/14/2019 the clay and the potter

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ADDRESS: VICTORY ACADEMY, PLOT 7,KOLAWOLE CLOSE OFF

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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


Thy deeds are puzzle and vivacious

Thou remain mysterious

As thou works mysteriously

There are three things that are hard to understand


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


Everyone hisses and hags at thee

All eyes are at thy work

There are three things that make trouble on earth


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


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


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


Oh mystery!

The being, yet unseen!

The best ever seen

The sparkling light in the dark


Thou cause laughter in sorrow

Thou appreciate, yet depreciate

There are three things that act mysteriously



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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.


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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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


Today I make no day.


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


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


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


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 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




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




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 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.

the clay and the potter

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