​Very Like a… ~ By Bill DeArmond

            And the Teacher desired to instruct in the way of a parable. He asked four students to gather around his desk and blindfolded them. Since an elephant would not fit through the door, he placed his Dog, Zohar, on the table and asked each to touch it and tell him what it was.
            One student touched the tail and declared: “It is very much like a Dog.”
            Another scratched the head and declared:  “It is very much like a Dog.”
            The third brushed its back and declared: “It is very much like a Dog.”
            And the last shook its paw and declared: “It is very much like a Dog.”
            Then the Teacher exclaimed: “Congratulations! You have all appropriately felt and accurately described the essence of Dog. Now, what breed is it?”
            And the students began to quarrel among themselves as to what “kind” of Dog they had experienced until the Teacher stopped them: “When you were blind to the differences you all correctly sensed the basic nature of Dog. Yet you quickly fell into dissension over the specifics.  Now, trust in your inner eye, go forth into the world, and try not to be stupid.”


Author Bio:
Dr. Bill DeArmond is Professor of Mass Communication and Film at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas. This month he has the lead story in Diodati #3 (available from Amazon) and a poem in the premiere issue of Tiny Tim's Literary Review.