BY KFLEEYESUS ABEBE
One of significant works of English literature “The Pilgrim’s Progress” is a typical example to allegory’s power in capturing readers’ interest and delivering intended message. Through good man’s pilgrimage through life, author John Bunyan showed what a christian life should be and insisted people to make progress in their lives by learning from mistakes. His presentation technique and the message led the book to be one of the top selling books of all time.
“This hill, though high, I covet to ascend;
The difficulty will not me offend.
For I perceive the way to life lies here.
Come, pluck up, heart; let’s neither faint nor fear.
Better, though difficult, the right way to go,
Than wrong, though easy, where the end is woe.”
Like Bunyan, Ethiopian prolific writer Kebede Michael have exploited allegory to deliver social and religious messages. Kebede Michael wrote several books to raise collective awareness among Ethiopians of his time but his works past time. His book Tarik ena mesale is a consequential book to story lovers particularly children. Kebede’s books promote education, development, philosophy, religion and culture with due emphasis for ethics and morals.
“Tsegereda ena demena/ “Rose and the cloud” is a beautiful narrative poetry by Kebede Michael. I read it lately and evoked questions and admiration in me. “Tsegereda ena demena is allegorical poem telling of a flower that is dying out due to lack of rain and a cloud passing the flower despite it is begged to give it rain. The poem in nutshell is a flower begs for a little drop of water so that it could survive. The cloud who can give water in a form of rain said I will give you another time and left. His kindness aren’t shown on time for the flower and it eventually dies.
It is true we say I will help him another time. I will do that when I get enough, when I return from work, after I finish this or what I have isn’t enough let me collect more and I will give him/her. But a person we haven’t helped may not be found in the place we left him. Kebede wanted the reader to recognize the urgency of some people’s need. He asked people to help eachother in the right time so they can save lives. They won’t regret whatever happened to that person because they have done what they ought to do in time. The message is still timely as we continued to procastinate our support and the problem aggravated.
The latern and its glass is another poetry telling powerful allegorical story. The story is used in schools for children to be able to identify advantage and harm of things. The story is an oil lamp boasts of its lightening on panes of glass surrounding it. The lamp told the panes of glass that surrounding it that it has no use than limiting its light. The glass went of for the latern be affected by the wind. The wind blow out the fire of the latern.
The third tale “Clay pot and metal pot” is a story about metal pot asking clay pot to be his friend. The metal pot says the two are similar and should be friends. He promised for the clay pot that it would safeguard him if it faces danger. The clay pot agreed knowing its weakness. However, when they start to go together they suddenly collide. The metal pot stands still with no problem but the clay pot is broken into pieces. So, in this story, Kebede advise readers that they should know their level; whom they should be friended with.
Reaching out to people on the right time, having value and respect to people and to know ones level are essential lessons even for this time. Kebede has made huge effort for Ethiopians to know and develop their values, to learn the best from the other world and thereby build enlightened society that can help reach the nation to world standard. His works are still fresh and helpful to shape generation, to mend the situation we are in. The task will be on us to read, to encourage others read and his works are used as input for other artistic productions.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD WEDNESDAY 14 JUNE 2023
