WHAT COULD’VE BEEN SALVAGED BY MASTER

Once
A farmer lived in a secluded area
With his lions
…dogs, cats, rabbits
…guinea fowls, goats, sheep and chickens
He trained these animals to spot danger
…to protect his farm

II
One day
Dog which was allowed to go hunting
…with lion
Came home wagging its tail
…in a manner signifying danger
The farmer sent his lions to check the danger and solve it
The lions went and never returned
He again sent his dogs
The dogs went, came with burns
…but the farmer whipped it to go and come back
…only when the danger was gone
Dog went for hours without returning
He sent his cats
They too didn’t return
He sent his rabbits
The rabbits didn’t return
He sent his guinea fowls
They flew to a point
…sensed the heat and with loud cries
…flew off to a distant land
He sent his goats
…but the goats won’t move an inch
He sent his sheep
The sheep went and didn’t return
He sent his chickens
They too went, never to return
It occurred to the farmer that whatever
…was chasing, needed his attention
He went out and saw clouds of smoke leading huge flames

III
It was then that he knew why his companions never returned
He saw some of the carcasses of chickens and sheep
…and knew the end was near
His goats, seeing the danger
…fled through the opposite direction
But the fire had encircled them
That was how the farmer died
…his farm completely burnt to ashes
Leaving no trace of their existence
Amoafowaa Sefa Cecilia © November 19, 2020