Tahenu and the Lord of Death 2017

Among the upland villages, no one is too old or too mighty for a good story.  And of all the world’s good stories, few are better loved than that of Tahenu and the Lord of Death.  It is a staple of the storyteller’s repertoire and a great favorite at village festivals.

Now the Lord of Death was terribly proud, and he often forgot that he is only a servant of the gods.  Although he has the power to bring souls to the Village of the Dead, it is not his place to choose who, when, or how.  Yet he thought he was the gods’ equal, and so one day he took it upon himself to collect new souls without permission.

The first of these was Tahenu the Fool.  The Lord of Death despised Tahenu, for he was carefree and happy, and he loved life no matter what befell him.  “I will bring him here, and he will be sad!” the Lord of Death exulted.  But it was not so, for Tahenu carried his love of life with him to the Village of the Dead.  His mischief was great, and his antics brought smiles to the shades.
 

“You cannot stay here! You must go back!” commanded the Lord of Death.  But Tahenu replied that as he was going to die someday, he might as well make himself at home.  And his laughter and joking only increased. 

The Lord of Death began to grow desperate, and he urged Tahenu to return to the Land of the Living.  “I will not,” replied Tahenu.  “I like it here.”  And the Dead loved Tahenu and made him feel welcome. 

The Lord of Death pleaded with the gods to restore Tahenu to life, but they refused.  “You have violated the order of things,” they said.  “Now Tahenu is his own master.”
 

There was only one thing left to do.  The Lord of Death knew that Tahenu loved children above all others, and so he traveled to the Land of the Living to humble himself before the smallest and weakest of the people.  “Please,” he cried, “ask Tahenu to come back to you!”  And holding out a magic basket like a hungry man, he begged the children to fill it with their pleas for Tahenu’s return. 

Tahenu was moved by the children’s entreaties.  “I will go back,” he said, “but since you know that I must one day return, I hope you will learn to laugh.  After all, life is too short.”  And much humbled by his experience, the Lord of Death resolved to think upon the wise fool’s words.