Oral Wisdom Rediscovered...Partly

I used to teach a Folklore/Folk Literature class a few semesters ago. One of the assignments that I gave to my students is that they go into the field (in this case, rural areas and far flung villages) to interview old people and collect proverbs, sayings, poetry, legends, tales, and the like. We always had fun trying to find out who got what, and in the process we get to appreciate the beauty of literature that gets passed orally from generation to generation. I have some samples of poetry and sayings from my own ethnic group here, in English and their meanings.



Matchstick

Why I don’t strike?
Because the moment I strike
Even without the help of heat
It can still catch fire


Meaning:

I am lucky for not having suffered much the pain (for having lost a lover)
Because had I suffered much said pain
Just the same, it would have ended in vain



A Field

You’re weeded with memories,
Plowed with nostalgia

Meaning:

Love here is visualized as a field of soil,with memories "growing" on it and whenever one remembers it, nostalgia "tills" the field.





Sayings

“a single act of misdeed kills a thousand memories”

Meaning: If you do a single act that displeased everyone, they forget whatever good you did in the past. :(




"load a cockroach with what it can only carry."

Meaning: Don't give somebody burdens/work he cannot do.



I'll post some more when I find my students' files.



Now here's something for you :). Could you give me the meaning of the following saying? Diana and BabyPink, you can't participate, let's see how our fellow bloggers will interpret this one! Good Luck! The best interpretation wins!


I may be rotting wood but be careful, I am a stumbling chunk in the way”