Proverb #86

"Onye rịrị elu ọjị kpara[kwa] nkụ, nihi na anaghị arị elu ọjị mgbe nile."

'He that climbs the iroko should also fetch firewood from the top because it is not often one gets to climb it'. 

The Iroko tree was the tallest of the forest trees with strong wood. Climbing it was a feat and not an everyday one, at that. Getting to the top was cause in itself for congratulations as you towered above everything else in sight. However at the top of the Iroko tree you also had your choice of branches to break or cut off for firewood and you could harvest enough to last you many days.

Life is like climbing an Iroko tree; it brings opportunities our way and every opportunity has its window of time. One must make the most of opportunity while it is there.

Therefore, he that climbs the iroko should also fetch firewood for it is not an oft repeated feat. 

Angles and Shades: By Agametochukwu D. Iheanyigwe, Ehime, Mbano.


Editorial:
It is striking that our contributor writes about the Iroko Tree in the past tense ... The Iroko tree was (sic) ...
Logging and deforestation are turning these majestic beauties into rare sights in Igboland. And the 'great forests'
'Oke Ọhịa' are disappearing. This picture was used as it appears at afrol.com, where similar concerns
about illegal logging are covered. Notice that our proverb makes use of the idea of breaking off branches
but leaving the tree in tact to 're-vegetate'.


Contributed By Agam D. Iheanyigwe, Ehime, Mbano.

for iFaT at ifont@groups.facebook.com
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© ifont 2011, as it appears here.

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