A Nandi children’s song from Kenya, a humorous word-chain that links together all aspects of the children’s future life. See At the New Moon for another Nandi song for children.
Who will throw goat’s dung at me?
What will you do with goat’s dung?
I will hurl it at the heavens:
What do you want with the heavens?
That they drop a little water on me:
Why do you want a little water?
That the burnt grass may grow:
Why do you want young grass?
That my old cow may eat:
What will you do with your old cow?
I will slaughter it for those eagles:
What do you want with those eagles?
That they drop their feathers for me:
Why do you want feathers?
That I may fasten them on my arrow:
Why do you want your arrow?
That I may hunt the enemies’ oxen:
Why do you want the enemies’ oxen?
That I may obtain my wife:
Why do you want your wife?
That she may bear me a child:
Why do you want your child?
That he may look for my lice:
Why do you want lice?
That I may go and die as an old man
from The Nandi: Their Language and Folklore (1909),
A.C. Hollis
