The Taboos of Life
25 November 2018
JOSEPH TAMBURE
At teenage, parents arrange future marriage
Trustful that a relationship will flourish
Unknowing what the future holds for them
The tender teens never have the choice
It’s taboo to choose yourself
At adolescence they have different roles to play
To become a man and woman it is compulsory
Under strict rules you must be groomed
Not allowed to see anyone accept parents
The male more stricter than female
It is taboo to ignore initiations
After two years initiation the male is now a warrior
Much happy celebrations and feasting
Proud parents, uncles, relatives and future in-laws
Witness and admire passing out of a warrior
The graduate warrior stands tall and fierce
With skills and discipline of life implanted
It is taboo to enter a life without knowledge
During secular life one of the rules is
Never see a girl's body at close range
Touching is evil and thinking of a girl is darkness
Disobedience costs life, status, health, wealth and relationships
It is taboo to see or touch
Community, land and clan are paramount
Warriors must defend these with their life
If not enemy an takes over your heritage
It’s a warrior’s lifetime duty to protect and nourish
It is taboo to ignore your duty
Communities of practice create basic underlying assumptions or clan obligations, which are invariably caught not taught.
Posted by: Bernard Corden | 27 November 2018 at 09:43 AM
I think the poem makes one think about the importance of clan obligations, something we expats often overlook or underestimate.
At the same time I was distracted a bit by the photo because the man in it reminded me of a man from Palimp, Mt Hagen, a son of Maip
Posted by: Garry Roche | 26 November 2018 at 05:46 AM