… the water was filthy but not a single one of us knew it. Hold on, maybe the elder knew but none of us younger ones were aware. We’ve never experienced anything different, so we didn’t think to question it or seek better or different. We weren’t brought up to question anyway or visit any other pool. Our’s was the best and the only water worth bathing in.
Some of us were getting sick from the dirty water, but we were told we did not scrub hard enough, so we put more grease to the elbow and scrub even harder. We were bruised, torn and grated and they applauded us for our commitment and diligence to the sickening fluid.
We were made to drink the water as well and we were all swollen and contaminated. Swollen head full of ignorance and lies with swollen stomach full of contamination. We were all fenced in and look the same with the same pitiful appearance but we knew no better or no different. The air we breathe was polluted with the pollutant from the water.
Then the day came when one of us escaped to try a different water just for comparison and we deemed him a traitor, a deserter, we ostracized him and banished him. He tried to tell us there is water outside the camp and the water is clean, but we wouldn’t even listen, talk less reason, he is outside the camp, he has bathed and drank a different, (howbeit clean) water. Therefore he can not be trusted.
A day came , when inadvertently, it was unplanned, definitely accidentally (at least that is what I believe) I found myself beside a different pool. Don’t ask me how I got there, but there I was. The water looked cool and calm, it was very clear, I had never seen water look that way. This was different, very different from what I was use to. I was puzzled, confused, convinced something must be wrong. Either I was going blind or mad or both, clean, clear water does nor exist outside my camp!
I needed to have a bath anyway and I was far from home, so I jumped in and cleaned myself, the feel of the water on my face was soft and soothing, my nostril enjoyed the pleasing delicate natural fragrance of the water, surprisingly I felt squeakily clean, there was none of that slipperiness that follows with the other water. This water was light, fluid and flowy. I came out fresh, clean and scarred. Scarred that this can’t be happening, shouldn’t be happening! I calmed myself down to reflect on my experience. No harm was done, but I was brought up in fear and terror of repercussions and punishment if I ever looked, not to talk of bath in a different water. Damnation was my lot.
I sat my clean self on a clean bench and I reasoned, will I be damned for bathing in and drinking clean clear water?
The jury is out!
Beautiful Ivory 