Lyrics of Reason and Experience

Reality of Things

29 Reality of Things Rain can beat a leopard’s skin But does it have the power enough to wash her spots? Children can play with lion’s young at home But does they the power to tame its lioness? A buffalo is a great animal in a jungle where there are no elephants But is it a great animal in a jungle where there are elephants? A king has the power to command his servants to obey him But does he have the power to command hunger not to gnaw him? A strong and hearty soldier fights fiercely in a battle But can he fight fiercely to live forever? Deep waters can be calm and silent But do they spare a mischievous child who tests their depths with both feet? The sword of a warrior is designed to fight an enemy But does it spare the owner when it is directed towards his mouth? A frog likes water But does it like the water even when it is boiling? Wealth is a good thing to have But isn’t it that virtue is much better? 30 Flowers of a tree produce fruits But do all the flowers in a tree produce fruits? Duck seeks water But isn’t it that some birds avoid water? A one-eyed man may thank God But isn’t it that he will thank God even more when he sees a man who is totally blind? A storyteller tell stories But isn’t it that he cannot tell everything he knows? It is good to travel with a companion But isn’t it much better to travel alone than to travel with a bad companion? A man can manage to burn his own house But isn’t it that he cannot manage to conceal the smoke that comes thereupon? A many can say something over a dead lion’s body But isn’t it that he cannot afford to say something over a lively lion’s body? Wood can stay a decade long in water But isn’t it that it cannot change into a crocodile? Forehead and backside exist on the same head But isn’t it that they can never meet? 31 Cactus is bitter But isn’t it that it’s not bitter even to him who doesn’t taste it? A woman can kindle fire But isn’t it that if she licks or sets her foot on it she will burn herself? A blade is sharp But isn’t it that it cannot cut another blade? A priest can sing “Halleluia” everywhere But isn’t it that this does not prove his piety? Hard questions that crack the teeth Digest ...