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THE MONKEY'S DISGRACE

THREE MONKEYS SAT UNDER A COCONUT TREE,
DISCUSSING THINGS AS THEY ARE TO BE.
SAID ONE TO THE OTHER, NOW LISTEN YOU TWO,
THERE IS A CERTAIN RUMOR THAT CANNOT BE TRUE.
THAT MAN DESCENDED FROM OUR NOBLE RACE,
THE VERY IDEA IS A DISGRACE.
NO MONKEY EVER DESERTED HIS WIFE,
STARVED A BABY OR RUINED A LIFE,
AND YOU HAVE NEVER KNOWN A MOTHER MONK
TO LEAVE HER BABIES WITH OTHERS TO BUNK.
OR PASS THEM ON FROM ONE TO ANOTHER
TILL THEY SCARCELY KNOW WHO IS THEIR MOTHER.
ANOTHER THING YOU WILL NEVER SEE;
A MONK TO BUILD A FENCE AROUND A COCONUT TREE.
AND LET THE COCONUTS GO TO WASTE,
FORBIDDING ALL OTHER MONKS TO TASTE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): IRONY SARCASM ; JUDGMENT ON HUMAN RACE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse C730.327

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JAMAICAN SUPERSTITION: MENSTRUATION

WHEN A WOMAN IS MENSTRUATING, SHE SHOULD NEVER LOOK AT THE DEAD
OR SOMETHING TERRIBLE MIGHT HAPPEN.

Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM A LADY-FRIEND FROM JAMAICA.

Where learned: NEW YORK ; JAMAICA

Keyword(s): B477 HUMAN ACTIVITY (BODILY FUNCTION)

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 01-01-1964

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PROVERBIAL METAPHOR

ABSENCE MAKES THE HEART GO WANDER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): HUMAN BODY ; VARIANT

James Callow Keyword(s): OBSERVATION ; PARODY

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb C880.700
PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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PROVERBIAL METAPHOR

ABSENCE MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER.

Where learned: NEW HAMPSHIRE ; MILFORD

Keyword(s): HUMAN BODY

James Callow Keyword(s): OBSERVATION

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 08-00-1967

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PROVERBIAL METAPHOR

ABSENCE MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER -- FOR ANYTHING AROUND.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): HUMAN BODY ; VARIANT

James Callow Keyword(s): OBSERVATION ; PARODY

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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AFRICAN PROVERB

ALL THE WATER I BATHE WITH DOESN'T GO ON MY SKIN.

Submitter comment: MEANING: ALL MY GOOD FUTURES IN LIFE ARE NOT FOR ME ALONE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CUSTOMS ; HUMAN BODY

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 09-00-1967

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SARCASTIC PROVERB

ANYTHING WORTH DOING IS WORTH DOING HALF-ASSED.

Submitter comment: THIS SAYING IS USUALLY APPLIED TO SOMEONE ABOUT TO UNDERTAKE A
PROJECT FOR WHICH THERE IS LITTLE ENTHUSIASM, I.E., A SOCIAL SERVICE
PROJECT, SCHOOL PROJECT, ETC.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): HUMAN BODY

James Callow Keyword(s): PARODY IRONY

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 02-10-1970

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PROVERB

AN ARM HOLDING A CUP CANNOT STRETCH OUTWARDS.

Submitter comment: A MAN FEELS A DEEPER LOVE TOWARDS HIS INTIMATES THAN TOWARDS OTHER
PEOPLE; BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER.

Data entry tech comment: KOREAN

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; KOREA ; SEOUL

Keyword(s): HUMAN BODY

James Callow Keyword(s): OBSERVATION

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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BROAD SHOULDERS

AS BROAD BETWEEN THE SHOULDERS AS A HERRING IS BETWEEN THE EYES.
(DESCRIBING A GUY WITH SLENDER SHOULDERS.)

Submitter comment: MAUREEN'S INFORMANT WAS HER 82 YEAR OLD GRANDMOTHER EVA HARMON
OF FRENCH DESCENT CURRENTLY RESIDING IN ALGONAC, MICHIGAN.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; TOLD AT

Keyword(s): COMPARISON ; FISH ; HUMAN BODY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Fish
PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison

Date learned: 11-08-1972

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COMPARISON

AS GRACEFUL AS A BULL IN A CHINA SHOP.

Data entry tech comment: VARIANT

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; DEFINITION ; HUMAN CREATION

James Callow Keyword(s): IRONY CLUMSINESS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mammal
PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison

Date learned: 11-00-1968

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PROVERBIAL COMPARISON

AS NERVOUS AS A CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; HUMAN CREATION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mammal
PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison

Date learned: 10-22-1968

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PROVERB

AS ONE TENDS HIS FENCE HE ALSO TENDS HIS FARM.

Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM YOUTH.

Where learned: INDIANA ; Hudson Lake

Keyword(s): HUMAN CREATIONS

James Callow Keyword(s): COMPARISON ; OBSERVATION

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 11-24-1967

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PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH PROVERB

AS SKINNY AS A SAWHORSE.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; MAUCH CHUNK

Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; DEFINITION ; HUMAN CREATIONS

James Callow Keyword(s): COMPARISON

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses
PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison

Date learned: 00-00-1961

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FLEMISH PROVERB

AS THE CLOCK TICKS AT HOME, IT TICKS NOWHERE ELSE. ZOOALS HET KLOKJE THUIS TIKT, TIKT HET NERGENS. (FLEMISH)

Submitter comment: THIS WAS GIVEN TO ME WHEN HE WAS VISITING DETROIT, MICH. FROM BELGIUM.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): HUMAN CREATIONS ; ONOMATOPEIA

James Callow Keyword(s): COMPARISON ; OBSERVATION ; TIME FLIES WHEN YOU'RE HAVING FUN

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 10-00-1967

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PROVERB

AT THE END OF A ROD GROWS A DEEP LOVE.

Submitter comment: PARENTS SPANK THEIR CHILDREN, TEACHERS WHIP THEIR PUPILS, AND
HUSBANDS SLAP THEIR WIVES IN LOVE. THE LOVED ONES KISS THE ROD AND
RETURN MORE LOVE WITH THANKS. (SPARE THE ROD AND SPOIL THE CHILD.)

Where learned: KOREA ; SEOUL

Keyword(s): HUMAN CREATION

James Callow Keyword(s): DISCIPLINE ; OBSERVATION ; PHYSICAL PUNISHMENT

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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AFRICAN PROVERB

BABY NOT BORN YET, AND HIS EYE CAN SEE.

Submitter comment: MEANING: DON'T COUNT YOUR CHICKENS BEFORE THEY ARE HATCHED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): HUMAN BODY

James Callow Keyword(s): ELLIPSIS

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 00-00-1967

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SAYING

BABY NOT BORN YET, ITS EYES CAN SEE"

Submitter comment: MEANING: DON'T COUNT YOUR CHICKENS BEFORE THEY HATCH.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): HUMAN BODY

James Callow Keyword(s): ELLIPSIS

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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INDIAN EXPRESSION

A BAMBOO FISH TRAP
IN INDIA, A WORLDLY MAN WOULD BE COMPARED TO 'A BAMBOO FISH TRAP.'

Submitter comment: THE IDEA IS THAT TO MAKE A BAMBOO FISH TRAP THE BAMBOO
MUST BE CARVED TO ADMIT
THE FISH AND PREVENT HIS ESCAPE. WHEN APPLIED TO A MAN,
THIS MEANS HE IS BENT TO THE WORLD AND ITS PLEASURES, RATHER THAN
STRAIGHT AND SEEKING THE INFINITE.

Data entry tech comment: BUDDHA WEEPS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): FISH ; HUMAN CREATION ; PLANT

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase

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PROVERB

BEAUTY IS IN THE EYES OF THE BEHOLDER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): HUMAN BODY ; SENSES

James Callow Keyword(s): OBSERVATION

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 08-09-1964

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PROVERB

BEAUTY IS ONLY SKIN DEEP.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): HUMAN BODY

James Callow Keyword(s): OBSERVATION

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 09-20-1969

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