Each Piece in its Place
“‘We praise the sun for its radiance; we bask in its warmth. Every morning it comes—without failure. It moves with the seasons, but it always returns. It never breaks our trust.
‘The rock is strong and firm. The wind blows but cannot carry it away; the rain falls but cannot consume it; the soil shifts, and the rock remains.
‘The tree spreads its branches over our heads. They shelter us from the heat, and from the rain. It spreads its roots under our feet, and they hold the ground together.
‘The flower adorns the grass with color and vibrance. Its blossoms feed the creature; its beauty feeds the heart.
‘Thus the world is bound together: Every grain with its purpose, each piece in its place. ’
“This is what holds our community together.”
When asked to elaborate on a comment made to a younger villager, Yokar recited this poem to me. It seems to be a song that has been passed down orally for generations. It's meant to be sung to the accompaniment of traditional instruments, but in Yokar's own words "I don't have musical skill". I shall have to solicit a performance of the song from the musicians.
The culture of the Razli village is centered around community and cooperation. The strength of a union is derived from the strength of its parts, and of their commitment to one another. Whether the Thoaksi have retained this element of culture is unknown, as correspondence between them and the Razli has all but ceased in recent years.
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