by
Obododimma Oha
It is amazing how poems live long in the memory when well packaged, for instance nursery rhymes which use that opportunity to plant important ideas. One of such nursery rhymes that one learnt long ago but which keeps coming back particularly on health and time management goes thus:
Early to bed: early to rise
Makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.
That applies to everyone, man or woman; none is excused. Human beings are formatted to lie down and sleep, just like being in stasis, and that helps the fellow to reboot and be in good shape. People who go against sleep may fall sick, get headaches, dizziness, and may generally be forgetful and careless in their work. So, having enough sleep is a good preparation to work better and have a strong immunity against infection. Put alternatively, one needs enough rest, not just through sleep but even holidays and change of environment.
In Africa and some other parts of the world, sleep may be driven away deliberately for genuine reasons, as in night watches or vigils, (called "wake-keep") sometimes, looking after the sick, etc. In such situations, kolanuts and other stimulants are freely used. In those situations, one has not "murdered" sleep but is compelled to stay awake.
But in the poem above, children are told to sleep in order to be prosperous and to be more effective in life. Imagine; one can remember the lines after so many years, the fear of poetry notwithstanding! Sleeping enough, scientists confirm, helps children to grow well. But when they do not sleep enough, they may not grow well and strong.
Maybe the rhyming has helped memory. Maybe the rhyming makes the idea look natural and relaxed and the individual can consume the poem without the fear of indigestion! Humans look for ways of being prosperous. When they are told that it is that simple and that sleep could be used, they could listen and comply.
These days that children watch films until it is early hours of the morning, interested in this and that ezemmụọ and witchcraft, how much sleep do they get before they wake? Can they be strong, wealthy and wise?
But it is not entirely their fault. Adults do the same and teach them to stay awake, sometimes consuming what really hurts them! One can understand Plato's predicament when, in his Republic, he first argues that poets are liars. Then, he recommends that children should not be told that there are ugly things in life, like wars, confusion and nonsense in the State House, the sexual scandals involving gods and goddesses, Corona virus pandemic, and other life-threatening disasters. By this unethical position, he hopes that children, or young minds, can be effectively protected from our rubbish in the world. So, here is the great predicament: we have to tell lies (to children) but we are forbidden from showing them the wrong ways (including lying)!
Plato and other social philosophers know that life does not rhyme perfectly, such that bad may produce good finally! Does the Holy Bible not say even that "In everything, God works for the good of those that trust in Him"? Life is full of ironies and one can remember our poem above, even if the poet could not find a perfect rhyme. Life, really, is funny, and is full of ups and downs. Lazy people who wake at 1:00PM and say "Good morning, neighbour," may still turn out to be wealthy, especially if they have friends in high places and can burn their ways to affluence in some countries.
But going to bed early and turning out wealthy and wise is good. All children and still deliverable adults should tune to that frequency. It is about habit, just as it is about being prepared to do things in good time. It is about being cultured and organized. All around us today are things that try to disorganize us and place us off the rail. We have to prepare to confront them, if possible, avoid them early.
"Early to bed" means that one has planned and is planning. That means having one's gaze on ways of succeeding. Those who go early to their beds have enough time to think when the situation is favourable.
"Early to rise" shows that one is ready. One has to confront life, or it works against one. One who gets up early to confront problems has chances of being glorious at the end, even though life is tremendously full of imperfect rhymes.
Being "wealthy and wise" at the end is an articulation of an aftermath. There is always payment for our labours, always an effect following its cause. So, we should expect that effect of rising early often.
We said that it is also about habit. Those who form the habit of treating the things of life with casual attitude and unnecessary delays may eventually get hurt and burnt. Was that not why the Igbo would say, "Abuzu otu okpa na-agba na gboo" ("One legged cricket starts the journey in time"). If one-legged cricket is unwise and carefree, the journey may end up being a fiction or dangerous.
Life's imperfect rhyming may tell us in a contrary poem to pull the bed covers and sleep on. But, remember that we are warned in the Holy Bible that a lazy fellow covers self to sleep but hunger comes to uncover the sleeper. So, however imperfect the things of life are, we are better of if we sleep, think, and prepare for them.
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