A Fable

The kids and I have been doing fables in school, so I decided to try my "writing hand" in producing one with a little added meaning *wink*. Enjoy!

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Once upon a distant time, in a land full of sunshine and fruit trees, there lived a small Binzu bird called Kaysay. His plumage was bright gold that shone in the sunlight, and though he was somewhat shy, he sang with a beauty far superior to that of the other Binzu birds in the land.

His favorite place to sit was high in the Hollyberry tree where the sunlight was brightest, the dew the sweetest, and the berries most plentiful.

The other birds loved him. He was always friendly and sang songs of all kinds, never too much about himself.

So the days passed in the pleasant way of the seasons, and Kaysay continued to enjoy singing on his perch high in the Hollyberry tree, dining on the berries and drinking the dew. And he sang with the utmost sweetness.

One day, Poolee, an older Binzu bird, saw Kaysay flying a little more slowly than usual.

"Young Kaysay, you have the voice of an angel, and I, like many others, enjoy it so much. But you should be careful what you eat and drink while sitting so high in the tree."

"You are most kind, old Poolee, but I am fine. I enjoy eating and drinking while I am sitting up there, and I've never hurt anyone."

"That is true, young Kaysay, but be wise in your choices. To indulge too much might bring hardship to you -- and your family and friends. Such would be a sadness to us all."

Kaysay knew that Poolee was a wise bird. He had lived nearly three times as long as the other birds in the land, but he liked his life, singing amongst the highest branches of the tree, eating berries and drinking dew. He saw nothing wrong with it.

Then one day, Poolee's prediction came true, and Kaysay fell through the branches of the tree, his sweet voice hoarse with squawking for help.

But who could help him?

His body had grown too heavy for his wings, and no one could lift him to higher ground. Had he been mindful of his over-indulgence he might have been able to stay where he belonged, high in the treetops.

But now he knew he was at the mercy of his predators.

Moral: When at the top of the very high Hollyberry tree, basking in the sun's rays, be careful how much you consume lest you become too heavy for your perch.

Copyright 2007