A Bar of Soap and Honey (Inspired by Kahlil Gibran)
rodneyc//05

     Asap, the elder, had been barraged by the youngish Neven.
Constantly, Asap had attempted to explain with patience his position,
and equally constantly Neven had rebuked the old sage with impunity. 
The village sat by, as the war of words waged on, and equally silently
they sat while debate changed into insult, and insult into personal
attacks.  Some even seemed to applaud Neven as his conversation shifted
from substance to personal, and from insult to injury.  Asap taking all
that he could take, marshaled his pride and sent his servant to the home
of Neven baring two gifts.  Unwrapping the gifts, Neven pondered, for
there before him were a  bar of soap and a bit of honey. Neven exclaimed
with joy and wonder, for surely Asap was bowing to his wisdom, and
acknowledged that Neven was lord of the debate. So, going into the
village shouting his glee, he proclaimed his victory over the aging
Asap.  There sitting by the corner of a tavern, an old drunk smiled then
laughed.  "You fool" he decried pointing to Neven.  Neven, a bit
perturbed retorted, "what have you, a common drunk to say to me?"  The
drunk, raising himself up from his stool, let drop a raged copy of the
collected works of Asap, looked at the young Neven and asked: "So,
Neven, how many words of wisdom have you penned, where is the cumulated
pages of your observations, pray tell us - in what library can we find
the completed volumes of your knowledge?" Neven, puzzled, feeling his
anger swell in his belly, cried out "What is it to you, and how is it
that a drunken fool would dare challenge me, have I not this day bested
the wise and noble Asap? "  The drunk, looking down at the tattered
book, with love and respect picked it from the ground, fingered its
pages, then in a voice that could be heard from street to corner,
declared: "You foolish Neven, have won nothing, you have demonstrated
your arrogance and your ignorance. For the so-called presents you
received from Asap merely declares his contempt."  Neven, getting angry
by the minute, not only for what is being said, but for his own
negligence for allowing himself to be trapped into this conversation
with this "fool". Determined to end it then, Neven angrily replies:
"What do you know of the conversations of men, you are but a fool, now
begone, else I will have you flogged and sent to prison where the dumb
sit in darkness."  The drunk, not to be outdone, sensing the pain in
Neven's voice responded "Lets see who is the fool.  You rejoice over the
present of a bar of soap and the bit of honey.  Do you not know that the
wise Asap has responded to your crudeness. Do you not know that the bar
of soap is to wash your filthy mouth and the honey is to sweeten your
bitter disposition.  Do you not know that you have been dismissed, and
rather then victory, he has declared you not worthy to debate.  And look
at you now, you debate the village idiot, what does that make of you."
With that, the drunk left the corner, and walked down the street.  In
his place sat Neven, in the darkness of his own conceit.