Diamonds
(This is an old fable to which I have given a new treatment.)
He had walked for thirty days and thirty nights
his whole body covered in mosquito bites,
his belly was empty and parched his throat
his chances of survival nil or remote.
He could hardly lift his feet from off the ground
but he was convinced there’d be a turnaround.
He was tired and weak and had had no sleep
with not even the strength to whimper or weep.
But he was never giving up on his quest,
when he found the diamonds he’d take a long rest.
The map said a cave in the Kalahari
deep there he had been but of diamond, nary.
Forty days and forty nights he kept going
strength in his body ebbing none flowing.
Nought to drink, nought to eat, eyes on fire, lips cut,
when he tripped and fell his legs would not get up,
but his belief in his mission unshaken
he was not accepting that he was beaten.
There was only one thing left, begin to crawl
but he was advancing hardly at all.
He often passed out but whenever he came to
he was just as determined in his aim to
forge ahead until he found the precious rocks,
if not that, he’d rather end up in a box.
Fifty days and fifty nights on, his mind gone
Unsure about anything he was doing.
Above were giant bats with eyes large like hats
on the ground two rats fighting like Kilkenny cats.
A spider with needle legs was watching him
his intentions clearly sinister and grim.
Then suddenly he screamed, is it a bad dream?
and started shivering and quivering.
Ah yes, looking for water, the source of life
water the cause of invasion, war and strife.
Water for the starving poor and my own thirst
I need bread of course, but water must be first,
without it it’s death, and I’d draw in my last breath.
When at last he saw the entrance to the cave
he cackled, it will have long to wait my grave.
Vigour renewed, he writhed and wriggled to the door,
the map said this was an underground water store.
He smiled for the first time in forty eight days
and entered a dreamlike landscape, filled with rays
of the sun streaking in through o’erhead openings
hearing the light tinkling as its gleamings
lit the floor and he saw a sight most uncommon,
no, not water alas, only a huge diamond.
