THE COCK WHICH CROWED LOUDEST

Once,
Seven cocks were hired to guard the storage of their farmer
Four cocks were to guard from each corner
One from far back
Another from far front
…whistle-blowers, they called them
The last was to supervise the rest
…and make sure their works stand the competent test

II
Night saw tiredness visiting the bodies of the guards
…leaving the rested supervisor strong
Fatigue visited too
…forcing their eyes shut by dangling darkness like an alibi
…till dawn opened the curtains of day
To register a shock only night’s mouth could explain
It was hopeless
…because night had no mouth

III
The storage was empty
All the grains of maize gone
Knowing the temper of their farmer needed no tamper
…as it never once pampered negligence
All the cocks rushed to his house to crow for mercy
…through their innocence

IV
They crowed from morn
By noon, only one cock’s crow could be heard
…the supervisor’s
The farmer waited and watched through his window
…as hunger and thirst weakened the other six
…while the supervisor still crowed in strength
He sent his servants to help the other six
…and bring the supervisor to his presence

V
“I’m sorry dear farmer
I went round till hours of three bypassed midnight
Then I decided to get some water for them to drink
…before dawn’s crow worship
But there was a log difficult to cross to the river
And I had such sore feathers from intensive supervisory flying
So I only reached the storage at 7am
…only to find it empty”

VI
The farmer chuckled and said
“It is clear you cleared my grains
The strength in your body
The power in your voice even after long hours of crowing
…all prove that you fed well throughout the night
I will mince no words
Tell me where you kept the rest or prepare to be dinner I pick from the abattoir”
Caged in front of the enraged farmer
The supervisor caved in and told them
…where the rest of the grains were

VII
All servants of the farmer were awed
“How did you know he orchestrated all this master?
Please let us know and tap from your wisdom”
They cried
The master looked at them, smiled and said
“Always, it is the guilty cock which crows loudest and longest
…either out of satisfaction
…or hope of reaching far with its cries to get away with its crimes”
Thus ended the regime of cocks guarding grains
Amoafowaa Sefa Cecilia © May 21, 2020