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Description
Andwele slept deep,
Snug in his cloak and hammock,
Until the sun rose.

He slumped off his bed,
His zebra hide loincloth slipped
On, 'round his strong waist.

A shy near eighteen,
Andwele grew strong, healthy,
Adapt in Africa.

His gentle blue eyes,
Shines bright like a daytime's moon,
Matched his short brown hair.

Strong arms and long legs,
Growing as a zebra took
Many runs and time...

He loved runs on plains;
In the lush jungles, he taught
Himself to swing vines.

He learned from Baba,
As she told him all the truths,
Dangers of their land.

"Some will stop at none
To find their own food, they are
The fiercest creatures."

"Predators," he thought,
"Why do they wish to eat us?"
She lowered her head...

Baba did not tell
About his real mother's death,
Since both are happy.

Andwele smells food...
Baba cooked their small breakfast:
Flame-cooked vegetables.

Baba peeped, "Oh my!"
"Today, my dear Andwele,
His time to earn stripes."

Andwele stepped out
Into the small kitchen room
Where he sees his mom.

Baba holds a bowl
Mixing herbs and plants to make
Andy's body paint.

Andwele smiles,
As this was his favorite part
To be a zebra.

"Good morning, my son,"
Baba strokes her five fingers
Inside the herb bowl

"Good morning, mother,"
Andwele bends down on knees,
Closing his small eyes.

Baba walks over, "Son,
"Today is your day to See."
She strokes the black paint...

The cool black paint dries
As Baba silently cries
A small tear outside...

"You have grown so short!"
Was going on inside her,
"Ever since your birth!"

"I know I've taught well,"
Baba finishes painting
Andy's zebra soul.

Andy, covered with
White paint and black stripes, naked,
Heads outside his home.

Baba leads out,
In front of Andy's body,
To the "Rite Passage".

The tribe watched the two,
Each kneeling down to the Earth,
Whispers of prayers...

Baba stopped Andy.
She walks up to a stone "shrine";
Andy stood and watched.

Silent chants, drums beat,
"Andwele, please step forward,"
Baba's voice shouted.

Andy stepped up slow,
The sun shined in his blue eyes,
Almost blinding him.

"Brother Andwele,
"Your quest for your destiny
Starts today... Our son."

The tribe shouts with joy,
"Congratulations, good luck!"
"May the Spirit guide...!"

In her hand, a bag.
Made of soft cotton dried up
With a light brown tint.

The bag lowers down,
To the face of Andwele,
Whom peeks inside it.

A rope, herbs, potions,
Andy's paint, food, small dagger,
A small clay canteen.

Andy turned around,
Facing his people his loves
With a small smile...

"Thank you, everyone!"
Andy raises his striped arms,
"You've given so much...!"

"You each shared stories,
Lessons, and friends to be with.
And it's thanks to mom...!"

"Without her, I'll not,"
Baba listens to each word
Her human son said...

Pride from a mother.
Her years of teaching her son,
Stands before her eyes...

The crowd cheered louder
As Andy walked back to mom,
"Thank you," with a hug.

Baba hugged him, "Son,
"I know I can't come with you,
But just remember:

"No matter where, son,
You are never alone; We,
And God shall love you."

"Baba, my mother..."
Andy wept at her striped knees,
"I don't want to go...!"

Baba kneeled down, "Son,
I know you may not feel it,
But you are ready."

Baba rose Andy,
"I will always be with you,
And as well as we."

She motions her hands
All around the town's zebras
With friendly smiles.

Andy smiled too.
He knew his mother is right.
"Thank you, my baba..."

The two hugged again,
Though it may be the last one
From his horse mother.

He turned to the rest,
A hug from each member shared
To their Andwele.

"So long, everyone!
I promise I will return
And share my stories!"

And so, the crowd cheered;
Waves of good-byes from children,
Teens, adults, elders...

With his smile brighter,
Andy runs towards the plains
With his sack and cloth.

Description
Andwele slept deep,
Snug in his cloak and hammock,
Until the sun rose.

He slumped off his bed,
His zebra hide loincloth slipped
On, 'round his strong waist.

A shy near eighteen,
Andwele grew strong, healthy,
Adapt in Africa.

His gentle blue eyes,
Shines bright like a daytime's moon,
Matched his short brown hair.

Strong arms and long legs,
Growing as a zebra took
Many runs and time...

He loved runs on plains;
In the lush jungles, he taught
Himself to swing vines.

He learned from Baba,
As she told him all the truths,
Dangers of their land.

"Some will stop at none
To find their own food, they are
The fiercest creatures."

"Predators," he thought,
"Why do they wish to eat us?"
She lowered her head...

Baba did not tell
About his real mother's death,
Since both are happy.

Andwele smells food...
Baba cooked their small breakfast:
Flame-cooked vegetables.

Baba peeped, "Oh my!"
"Today, my dear Andwele,
His time to earn stripes."

Andwele stepped out
Into the small kitchen room
Where he sees his mom.

Baba holds a bowl
Mixing herbs and plants to make
Andy's body paint.

Andwele smiles,
As this was his favorite part
To be a zebra.

"Good morning, my son,"
Baba strokes her five fingers
Inside the herb bowl

"Good morning, mother,"
Andwele bends down on knees,
Closing his small eyes.

Baba walks over, "Son,
"Today is your day to See."
She strokes the black paint...

The cool black paint dries
As Baba silently cries
A small tear outside...

"You have grown so short!"
Was going on inside her,
"Ever since your birth!"

"I know I've taught well,"
Baba finishes painting
Andy's zebra soul.

Andy, covered with
White paint and black stripes, naked,
Heads outside his home.

Baba leads out,
In front of Andy's body,
To the "Rite Passage".

The tribe watched the two,
Each kneeling down to the Earth,
Whispers of prayers...

Baba stopped Andy.
She walks up to a stone "shrine";
Andy stood and watched.

Silent chants, drums beat,
"Andwele, please step forward,"
Baba's voice shouted.

Andy stepped up slow,
The sun shined in his blue eyes,
Almost blinding him.

"Brother Andwele,
"Your quest for your destiny
Starts today... Our son."

The tribe shouts with joy,
"Congratulations, good luck!"
"May the Spirit guide...!"

In her hand, a bag.
Made of soft cotton dried up
With a light brown tint.

The bag lowers down,
To the face of Andwele,
Whom peeks inside it.

A rope, herbs, potions,
Andy's paint, food, small dagger,
A small clay canteen.

Andy turned around,
Facing his people his loves
With a small smile...

"Thank you, everyone!"
Andy raises his striped arms,
"You've given so much...!"

"You each shared stories,
Lessons, and friends to be with.
And it's thanks to mom...!"

"Without her, I'll not,"
Baba listens to each word
Her human son said...

Pride from a mother.
Her years of teaching her son,
Stands before her eyes...

The crowd cheered louder
As Andy walked back to mom,
"Thank you," with a hug.

Baba hugged him, "Son,
"I know I can't come with you,
But just remember:

"No matter where, son,
You are never alone; We,
And God shall love you."

"Baba, my mother..."
Andy wept at her striped knees,
"I don't want to go...!"

Baba kneeled down, "Son,
I know you may not feel it,
But you are ready."

Baba rose Andy,
"I will always be with you,
And as well as we."

She motions her hands
All around the town's zebras
With friendly smiles.

Andy smiled too.
He knew his mother is right.
"Thank you, my baba..."

The two hugged again,
Though it may be the last one
From his horse mother.

He turned to the rest,
A hug from each member shared
To their Andwele.

"So long, everyone!
I promise I will return
And share my stories!"

And so, the crowd cheered;
Waves of good-byes from children,
Teens, adults, elders...

With his smile brighter,
Andy runs towards the plains
With his sack and cloth.