The sun was hitting his face. The savanna shining with the sheer light of a misty morning. Before him, walked his grandfather, two skinny dogs, and a tired cow with hanging udders. They all walked barefoot. Joimar couldn’t be older than six. His grandfather was nearing eighty. The road was reddish, powdery. On either side, only palm trees, tall grass, and an occasional bewildered mule. The kid had a problem. He wanted to know everything.
- Grandpa, do birds ever get tired of flying?
- Sometimes, and when so, they let the wind carry them.
- Grandpa, does God come out at daytime or nighttime?
- He never sleeps
- And doesn’t he get tired?
- No.
- Grandpa, are donkeys horses that didn’t eat well?
- No, horses are horses, donkeys are donkeys.
They walked slowly, between the torpor of the heat and the sound of their steps on the soil. Suddenly, Joimar stepped on a fresh flop that the tired cow had just dropped.
- Grandpa, what is cow dung good for?
- To make house walls
Joimar burst into a fit of laughter and his grandfather joined in with a smile that revealed his large and aged white teeth.
Final Note
In Dos Aguas, we’ve learned, as the community has shown us, that cow dung can be used for making walls. Apart from being a local ancient technique, it is sustainable and respectful of the environment.
