THE PIECE of LIVER
by Unknown · from Turkish fairy tales and folk tales
Adapted Version
Lily lived with her Grandma. "Lily," Grandma said, "get liver for dinner." Lily went to the market. She bought the liver.
Lily went to the pond. She washed the liver there. A big stork flew down. It snatched the liver. The stork flew away. "Stork, stork!" Lily cried. "Give me my liver!" Stork said, "Give me a barley-ear."
Lily went to the straw-stalk. "Straw-stalk," she said. "Give me a barley-ear. I need it for the stork." Straw-stalk said, "Pray for rain."
Lily started to pray. A kind man came. "You need a censer," he said. "It helps your prayer. Go to the bazaar-keeper." Lily went to him.
"Bazaar-keeper," Lily said. "Give me a censer. I need it for my prayer." Bazaar-keeper said, "Bring me a boot."
Lily went to the cobbler. "Cobbler," she said. "Give me a boot. I need it for the bazaar-keeper." The cobbler said, "Bring me a hide."
Lily went to the tanner. "Tanner," she said. "Give me a hide. I need it for the cobbler." The tanner said, "Bring me an ox hide. Get it from the ox."
Lily went to the ox. "Ox," she said. "Give me your hide. I need it for the tanner." The ox said, "Bring me some straw. Get it from the farmer."
Lily went to the farmer. "Farmer," she said. "Give me some straw. I need it for the ox." The farmer said, "Sing me a happy song."
Lily sang a happy song. The farmer smiled. He gave her the straw. Lily gave the straw to the ox. The ox was happy.
The ox gave Lily its hide. She took the hide. She gave it to the tanner. The tanner gave her shoe-leather.
Lily gave the shoe-leather to the cobbler. The cobbler made a boot. He gave the boot to Lily. She gave the boot to the bazaar-keeper. He gave Lily the censer.
Lily held the censer. She prayed for rain. The clouds heard her. Rain started to fall. It was soft and gentle.
Lily gave the rain to the straw-stalk. The straw-stalk grew. It gave Lily a barley-ear. Lily gave the barley-ear to the stork.
The stork gave Lily the liver. Lily ran home. She gave the liver to Grandma. Grandma cooked the liver. Lily was very happy. Grandma cooked the liver. They ate a yummy dinner.
Original Story
THE PIECE OF LIVER
Once upon a time there was an old woman who felt she would very much like to have a piece of liver, so she gave a girl two or three pence, and bade her buy the liver in the market-place, wash it clean in the pond, and then bring it home. So the girl went to the market-place, bought the liver, and took it to the pond to wash it; and while she was washing it a stork popped down, snatched the liver out of her hand, and flew away with it. Then the girl cried: “Stork, stork! give me back my liver, that I may take it to my mammy, lest my mammy beat me!”—“If thou wilt fetch me a barley-ear instead of it, I’ll give thee back thy liver,” said the stork. So the girl went to the straw-stalk, and said: “Straw-stalk, straw-stalk! give me a barley-ear, that I may give the barley-ear to the stork, that the stork may give me back my liver, that I may give the liver to my mammy.”—“If thou wilt pray Allah for rain, thou shalt have a little barley-ear,” said the straw-stalk. But while she was beginning her prayer, saying: “Oh, Allah, give me rain, that I may give the rain to the straw-stalk, that the straw-stalk may give me a barley-ear, that I may give the barley-ear to the stork, that the stork may give me back my liver, that I may give the liver to my mammy,” while she was praying thus, up came a man to her and said that without a censer no prayers could ever get to heaven, so she must go to the bazaar-keeper for a censer.
So she went to the bazaar-keeper, and cried: “Bazaar-keeper, bazaar-keeper! give me a censer, that I may burn incense before Allah, that Allah may give me rain, that I may give rain to the straw-stalk, that the straw-stalk may give me a barley-ear, that I may give the barley-ear to the stork, that the stork may give me back my liver, that I may give my liver to my mammy!”
“I’ll give it thee,” said the bazaar-keeper, “if thou wilt bring me a boot from the cobbler.”
So the girl went to the cobbler, and said to him: “Cobbler, cobbler! give me a boot, that I may give the boot to the bazaar-keeper, that the bazaar-keeper may give me a censer, that I may burn incense before Allah, that Allah may give me rain, that I may give rain to the straw-stalk, that the straw-stalk may give me a barley-ear, that I may give the barley-ear to the stork, that the stork may give me back the liver, that I may give the liver to my mammy.”
But the cobbler said: “If thou fetch me a hide thou shalt have a boot for it.”
So the girl went to the tanner, and said: “Tanner, tanner! give me a hide, that I may give the hide to the cobbler, that the cobbler may give me a boot, that I may give the boot to the bazaar-keeper, that the bazaar-keeper may give me a censer, that I may burn incense before Allah, that Allah may give me rain, that I may give the rain to the straw-stalk, that the straw-stalk may give me a barley-ear, that I may give the barley-ear to the stork, that the stork may give me back my liver, that I may give the liver to my mammy.”
“If thou gettest a hide from the ox, thou wilt get a hide fit for making a boot,” said the tanner.
So the girl went to the ox, and said to it: “Ox, ox! give me a hide, that I may give the hide to the tanner, that the tanner may give me boot-leather, that I may give the boot-leather to the cobbler, that the cobbler may give me a boot, that I may give the boot to the bazaar-keeper, that the bazaar-keeper may give me a censer, that I may burn incense before Allah, that Allah may give me rain, that I may give the rain to the straw-stalk, that the straw-stalk may give me a barley-ear, that I may give the barley-ear to the stork, that the stork may give me back my liver, that I may give the liver to my mammy.”
The ox said: “If thou get me straw I’ll give thee a hide for it!”
So the girl went to the farmer, and said to him: “Farmer, farmer! give me straw, that I may give the straw to the ox, that the ox may give me a hide, that I may give the hide to the tanner, that the tanner may give me shoe-leather, that I may give the shoe-leather to the cobbler, that the cobbler may give me a shoe, that I may give the shoe to the bazaar-keeper, that the bazaar-keeper may give me a censer, that I may burn incense before Allah, that Allah may give me rain, that I may give rain to the straw-stalk, that the straw-stalk may give me a barley-ear, that I may give the barley-ear to the stork, that the stork may give me back my liver, that I may give the liver to my mammy.”
The farmer said to the girl: “I’ll give thee the straw if thou give me a kiss.”
“Well,” thought the girl to herself, “a kiss is but a little matter if it free me from all this bother.” So she went up to the farmer and kissed him, and the farmer gave her straw for the kiss. She took the straw to the ox, and the ox gave her a hide for the straw. She took the hide to the tanner, and the tanner gave her shoe-leather. She took the shoe-leather to the cobbler, and the cobbler gave her a shoe for it. She took the shoe to the bazaar-keeper, and the bazaar-keeper gave her a censer. She lit the censer and cried: “Oh, Allah! give me rain, that I may give the rain to the straw-stalk, that the straw-stalk may give me a barley-ear, that I may give the barley-ear to the stork, that the stork may give me back my liver, that I may give the liver to my mammy.” Then Allah gave her rain, and she gave the rain to the straw-stalk, and the straw-stalk gave her a barley-ear, and she gave the barley-ear to the stork, and the stork gave her back her liver, and she gave the liver to her mammy, and her mammy cooked the liver and ate it.
Story DNA
Moral
Perseverance and a willingness to engage with others can help overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
Plot Summary
A young girl is tasked with buying and washing a piece of liver, but a stork snatches it, demanding a barley-ear in return. This initiates a long, cumulative chain of demands: the straw-stalk needs rain, which requires prayer, needing a censer from a bazaar-keeper, who needs a boot from a cobbler, who needs a hide from a tanner, who needs a hide from an ox, who needs straw from a farmer. The girl fulfills the farmer's demand for a kiss, then reverses the chain, acquiring each item in turn, culminating in her prayer to Allah for rain. With the rain, she completes all exchanges, retrieves the liver, and successfully delivers it to her mammy.
Themes
Emotional Arc
frustration to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
The use of 'Allah' and 'bazaar' suggests an origin in a Muslim-majority region, where prayer and market culture are central. The chain of demands reflects a pre-industrial economy where goods and services were often bartered.
Plot Beats (15)
- An old woman sends a girl to buy and wash a piece of liver.
- While washing the liver, a stork snatches it and demands a barley-ear for its return.
- The girl asks a straw-stalk for a barley-ear, which requests prayer for rain.
- A man informs the girl she needs a censer to pray effectively, so she seeks one from a bazaar-keeper.
- The bazaar-keeper demands a boot from the cobbler in exchange for the censer.
- The cobbler demands a hide from the tanner for the boot.
- The tanner demands a hide from an ox for the shoe-leather.
- The ox demands straw from the farmer for its hide.
- The farmer demands a kiss from the girl for the straw.
- The girl kisses the farmer, receives the straw, and gives it to the ox.
- The ox gives her a hide, which she gives to the tanner for shoe-leather.
- She gives the shoe-leather to the cobbler for a boot, which she gives to the bazaar-keeper for a censer.
- With the censer, she prays to Allah for rain, which is granted.
- She gives the rain to the straw-stalk for a barley-ear, which she gives to the stork.
- The stork returns the liver, and the girl delivers it to her mammy, who cooks and eats it.
Characters
The Girl
A small, slender girl of indeterminate height, with a youthful build. Her skin is likely sun-kissed from outdoor activities, with a healthy, active complexion typical of a child in a rural setting.
Attire: A simple, practical tunic dress made of coarse linen or cotton, possibly in an earthy tone like beige or light brown, reaching her knees or calves. She might wear simple leather sandals or be barefoot, suitable for walking to the market and pond. Her clothing is clean but shows signs of wear from daily life.
Wants: To retrieve the liver for her mother and avoid punishment, driven by a strong sense of duty and fear of her mother's anger.
Flaw: Her innocence and perhaps a slight naivety make her vulnerable to the demands of others; her fear of her mother's beating drives her actions.
She transforms from a simple errand-runner into a determined problem-solver, navigating a complex chain of bartering and requests, ultimately succeeding through her persistence.
Obedient, persistent, resourceful, determined, innocent.
The Old Woman (Mammy)
A frail, elderly woman, likely thin with a slightly stooped posture from age. Her hands are gnarled from years of work. Her height is likely diminished with age.
Attire: Simple, practical, and modest clothing typical of an elderly woman in a rural Middle Eastern or North African village. This would include a long, loose-fitting dress or tunic (thobe) made of cotton or wool in muted colors, possibly with a simple headscarf (hijab) covering her hair.
Wants: To satisfy her craving for a piece of liver.
Flaw: Her age and inability to perform tasks herself, relying on others.
Remains unchanged, her desire for liver is fulfilled at the end.
Demanding, particular, potentially stern (implied by the girl's fear of a beating), focused on her desires.
The Stork
A large, elegant white stork with long, slender red legs and a long, pointed red beak. Its wingtips are black, contrasting sharply with its white body. It has a graceful, imposing presence.
Attire: Its natural plumage of pristine white feathers with striking black primary flight feathers on its wings.
Wants: To acquire a barley-ear, likely for food or nesting material, and to satisfy its own immediate desires.
Flaw: Its desire for a specific item (barley-ear) makes it susceptible to bartering.
Remains unchanged, simply acts as a catalyst for the girl's journey.
Opportunistic, clever, demanding, somewhat mischievous.
The Farmer
A sturdy, broad-shouldered man with a strong build, accustomed to physical labor. His height is average to tall. His skin is tanned and weathered from working outdoors.
Attire: Practical, durable clothing suitable for farm work in a Middle Eastern or North African climate. This would include a loose-fitting cotton shirt (qamis) and trousers, possibly a simple vest, and a headscarf (keffiyeh or ghutra) to protect from the sun, in earthy tones like brown, beige, or off-white.
Wants: To receive a kiss from the girl in exchange for straw, seeing it as a harmless and pleasant transaction.
Flaw: His susceptibility to a simple, personal gratification (a kiss).
Remains unchanged, simply fulfills his role in the chain of requests.
Practical, opportunistic, a bit playful, enjoys a simple pleasure.
Locations
Village Pond
A natural body of water, likely still and calm, used for washing. The surrounding area would be rural, possibly with reeds or other aquatic plants at the edges.
Mood: Initially peaceful, then frantic and desperate
The girl washes the liver, and a stork snatches it, initiating the chain of requests.
Market-place
A bustling open-air market where goods like liver are sold. It would feature stalls, vendors, and various wares, reflecting a North African or Middle Eastern setting.
Mood: Lively, busy, utilitarian
The girl purchases the liver before taking it to the pond.
Bazaar-keeper's Shop / Bazaar
A shop within a larger bazaar, filled with various goods. The bazaar would be a covered or semi-covered marketplace, typical of Middle Eastern or North African towns, with narrow alleys and small, specialized shops.
Mood: Cluttered, commercial, slightly mysterious
The girl seeks a censer from the bazaar-keeper.
Farmer's Field / Farmyard
An open agricultural area, likely with fields of barley or other crops, and a farmyard where an ox might be kept. The setting would be rural and earthy.
Mood: Rural, industrious, earthy
The girl obtains straw from the farmer by giving him a kiss, completing the chain of exchanges.