xia23

The Unequal Earthworms [1]

Franz Hohler [2]

Translated by xia23

Once upon a time, deep under the sorrel field, there lived two earthworms who lived on sorrel roots.

One day the first earthworm said: “Well now, I’m fed up with living under the soil, I want to travel and to know the world." He packed his small suitcase and drilled a hole up. When he saw the sun shining and the wind stroking the sorrel field, his heart felt light, and he wriggled happily through between the stems. But he hardly moved for three feet, a blackbird spotted him and ate him up.

The second earthworm, however, always stayed in his burrow under the soil, eating sorrel roots every day and lived the longest life. But tell me yourself – is that a life?

PS.

I have repeatedly been told by biologists, that earthworm ate no roots (how could they, with no teeth?). However, I could not force myself to change my story, for example, into “The Unequal Field Mice” or “The Unequal Moles”.

A man sits there as a writer with his fantasy world, lets the head give out the most beautiful thing, and the reality knocks on the door – tell me yourself, is that a life?              

[1]. p. 11, Die ungleichen Regenwümer. Weg werf Geschichten. Franz Hohler. Zytglogge Verlag. 2017.

[2]. Franz Hohler. 3/1/1943 -  . A Swiss author. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Hohler