Member-only story
The Wise Parrot
An Educational Fairy Tale
Once upon a time there lived in the city of Baghdad a kind and generous merchant. He had many servants in his occupation, as well as a beautiful parrot with brightly colored wings, famous for its eloquence and songs.
The merchant was a good man and treated everyone in the best possible way. One day, before leaving for a business trip to India, he asked his servants what gifts they would like him to bring them.
“Ask me anything you want,” he told them. “I have everything one would want in life.”
Everyone asked for jewelry, silks, perfumes and spices. At the end, the merchant asked the parrot: “And you my soul, what do you wish me to bring you from India my sweet bird? You already have a cage of tortoiseshell and ivory, a beautiful mirror decorated with diamonds, two gold rings with precious stones on your feet and you enjoy the most selected fruits and vegetables of the world in your meals. But whatever it is you want, I shall bring it to you.”
“I do not wish for anything,” replied the parrot. “All I wish for, please, is to convey a message to the parrots of India. When you meet them, tell them that “my parrot, which was God’s will to be locked in my cage, has longed for you. He is tired of what has given him pleasure so far… All this is empty and meaningless. Oh, wise…
