Morondanga Republik: Peppo of Patience
No one knows if Peppos are real or a product of the imagination of King Filomenus. But no one ever dared to call the monarch a liar. In fact, no one ever thought that Filomenus was lying, but many believed that he had gone completely mad. The point is this: in Morondanga Republik, the insane are not outcasts. On the contrary, madness in Morondanga gives a certain prestige. Perhaps because a large percentage of Morondanga is completely out of its mind, or perhaps simply because madness is full of poetry, and we already know the weakness of the Morondanga people for poetry. Anyway, I went off on a tangent.
This Peppo is the Peppo of Patience.
Their skin is grayish but shiny, as if small insects made of diamonds had been introduced to live in their pores. Their hair is like moss: with a nostalgic scent that brings to mind some childhood river. The eyes of the Peppo of patience make you rest in the confidence that everything, at some point, will find its course.
The ritual to honor this Peppo is simple: Place a chair in front of a window and on it, a ceramic cup filled with ice. Watch the cup until the ice is completely melted and when this finally happens say the following prayer:
"O Peppo of Patience, make waiting on me feel like enjoyment".
Then use the cup to drink tea. And enjoy.
Flora Márquez, 2023.
