“I’ve discovered something, it’s new and it’s bold”
Said the excited young man rather loud;
“It will save many lives come this winter”
(At this, murmurs broke out in the crowd).
“Quiet” said the tribe’s great Elder
“Let's hear what the boy has to say;
Clear away all the corpses of people,
We sacrificed earlier today”

“My friends, I believe this is the future
It will save us from the wet and the cold
It will make our survival more easy
It will help both the young and the old
It will ward off the mammoth and tiger
And other beasts in our forest at night
It will cook all our food, saving illness
It will even turn darkness to light!
What’s more it will give an advantage
Over those humans across the bay
With this, we can burn down their village
And drive them all finally away.
But caution my friends, we must hurry -
I’ve seen them forming sparks with a rock
We must harness my “fire” and use it,
We must stay ahead of the clock!”

The youngster then sat down, exhausted
Expecting both praise and acclaim
But instead found a deafening silence
(Followed by muted scorn and some blame)

The Elder then spoke to his people,
The crowd fell silent once more,
Leaning still closer to hear him;
The leader who laid down the law;

“Thanks, young man for the presentation
You made your pitch very well,
Please show us this miracle “fire”
Of which you so eloquently tell?”

The crowd turned again to the youngster
They could see his blood visibly drain
The boy turned, bemused, to the Elder;
“But I can’t make my  fire in this rain!”

The Elder smiled wisely and nodded;
“You see, the gods have given a sign”
Let's stay focussed on other research,
The square wheel – a pet-project of mine!
This "fire" idea’s not a new one
My father showed it similar disdain
If our gods wanted us to have fire
They wouldn’t produce all this rain!"

"People listen, our culture is ancient
Our traditions detailed and proud
Let’s stick with what we’ve done always"
(This played rather well with the crowd)
"Our six-fingers and three-eyed faces
Have always stood us in good stead,
We’ll be here, long after, Trust me
All those two-eyed bastards are dead”