49. THE COCK & THE SUNRISE

The animals out on the farm once had an argument about what tomorrow would bring. The cow re-chewed her grass and said ‘Tomorrow will be long day, the sun will rise and set slowly with many tedious hours in between. Many tedious hours of re-chewing and re-thinking. My holy meditation – a blessing to all.’ she said as she stood re-chewing her grass in deep contemplation, with dreamy cow eyes. ‘No’ said the donkey ‘It will be day full of work, and I will carry the burden, and build man’s world. Great will be my reward.’ Finally the pig said; ‘I will wallow in the mire all day, and the farmer will feed me fat, for I am noble and handsome; more so than any other creature.’ He said with a grunt of satisfaction. Then finally they turned to the Rooster and ask him; ‘What do you say tomorrow brings, bringer of the dawn?’ The Rooster replied; ‘Tomorrow at the break of day I will crow, and I will proclaim that the holy cow will chew all day on her grass to no avail, for her thoughts are too slow and deep and steady to make any progress, and that man will milk her all of her days. I will proclaim that the donkey is a mere beast of burden, and he will do hard labour from dawn until dusk for man’s benefit and enrichment and no-one else’s; a true ass indeed. I will proclaim that the pig is a feast in waiting, that is why man is fatting him up. Not for his own vanity and pleasure as he assumes; but for the bacon on his fat hide. As the day breaks true in glorious beams of sunlight, so my words ring true, in that moment of daylight and total clarity. When I crow tomorrow morning; seize the day all children of men, and make hay while the sun shines. One day in the sun is worth more than a thousand years in the darkness.