Meal for a King.

In Cuba Santeria has adopted a story about a Ruler and his Kingdom. The King was always in search of knowledge and one day asked a slave to serve him the best dish in the world. The slave agreed and hurried off only to return with a small golden platter. The king looks upon him and asks, “Slave, you are back so quickly, do you take me for a fool? What could the best dish in the world be?” The slave bows and removes the platter’s cover to reveal a single pink tongue and says “My King, here is the best dish in the world, it can raise children, comfort and bind, mend breaks and bring together nations. King, above all, it can give hope and love, the greatest of all beliefs. The king nodded suspiciously and asked, “Now, I want you to bring me the worst dish in the world.” The slave agrees and hurries away only to return with another golden platter of the same size. The king looks upon the slave and asks, “But you are back even sooner than before, what could this dish be?” The slave bows and removes the plate’s cover to reveal, once more, a pink tongue. "My king, here is the worst dish in the world. It can destroy men, spark terror and coddle despair, it can bring pain and burn nations. Dear King, it has the greatest power of all, the ability to foster doubts and crush hope."

#cuba #havana #caribbean #poetry #wander