A calf wandered off from the dip obviously out of curiosity. When the calf realised it was late, the calf retraced its steps home bound. The calf, as green and naïve as it was, was sure it was headed in the right direction but it left a trail that was crooked and ended up going back and forth on its way. This calf is thought to be dead, it would be impossible for a calf to be alive in a rural setting after a whole three centuries. Stronger evidence points to its demise; there was a trail doubling that of the calf that was picked up by the owner the following day. It was that of a stray dog, and it followed up to the hills. I would imagine the dog’s determination to be alive was more than the determination of the calf to find its way home. Natural course of action, no tears lost.
As the owner and a few of his herdsmen helped to look for the wandering calf, they followed the same trail left by the calf and stray dog. They often commented on the folly of the calf, and how it had strayed so far from home. “If anyone followed this trail to get back, they would be lost.” they nodded in agreement. Still, they followed the trail left by the calf and after concluding the futility of the venture, they decided that it was time to call it quits. They followed the trail of their own footsteps to go back home. After taking a week to get back, they lamented at how long they took for the return. Fatigue perhaps, they reasoned.
Many people who often thought to walk to the next village found the thought tiring. Reason being the path was long and tiring. The journey took days and needed supplies which frankly was unnecessary. When it was inevitable, they took the path and journeyed forth through the footpath. Because of the length of the journey, people opted to use caravans to travel. The path widened and became a road with time, and the expansion laid them exposed to the cruel sun. The old folk lamented often that the journey had once been a quick and impulsive trip. They blamed their progeny for laziness and relying so much on modern conveniences to travel.
As the years passed, the road was used for trade and a town sprung up to mitigate the distance of travel. The journey was hence split into two, with people opting to sleep over at the town. Half the travellers often settled halfway and never completed the journey. The other half never returned to their original homes, the destination seemed far. They often wondered what made the journey so long. As the years passed by at the speed at which they do, the town grew to a city and a later to a renowned metropolis. It marked the tale of two cities, once so close but now so far from each other.
For three centuries, thousands of men have trodden on the road and remarked how the distance is demoralising for travel. For three centuries, no one thought it necessary to look for a shorter route. For three centuries, people followed the journey of a calf three centuries dead. For three centuries, the calf led the way home, a destination it never quite found. In the end, a lot of days were lost on a calf’s journey and human expectation to make a way because there was will. Three centuries later, it was the innocence of a child that illuminated the folly of generations. Sometimes, a will is not a precursor for a way. A greater will may yet overpower your way and by God, you will toe the line for the journey of a calf.
All the debates on the who, what, where and the how will amount to nothing if the mistakes that have hounded this country for the last five or ten years or whichever measure are repeated. Burn all the coffins you can, post all the CVs you can think of, argue with whoever gives you audience … all this will quell just but a candle light. Who will quell the blazing inferno that is fast razing the country as we all rush to the center? Will we be unscathed or nurse wounds only to wait another five years to relieve them.
What use is there to rebuild a burning town from charred concrete boulder and charred beams? Beats the purpose of rebuilding, doesn’t it? What is the essence of choosing between two evils simply because one is a lesser evil whilst dismissing many other credible options available to the curb? For me, the rhetoric simply tells me to be responsible for my own wandering to the ballot, and not follow the wanderings of a calf long dead.
donmu2ua 