Page 133 - The Book of Rumi

The boy nodded without interrupting his loud playing.
“You know that this camel belongs to the army, don’t you?” the farmer
asked.
The boy nodded again as he continued to play.
“Do you also know that he carries their enormous war drum? And have
you seen the size of this drum?” The farmer spread his arms wide to replicate
the breadth of the massive instrument. “This poor beast’s ears are numb to
the sound of your small, delicate drum, my dear. He probably hasn’t heard a
beat!” he told the boy gently. “Not every drum scares away every animal, and
yours is not suited to drive away anything other than small birds and rabbits!”
The boy listened attentively and immediately stopped playing, realizing
the futility of his effort. Silence fi nally spread over the fi elds, and the farmers
could resume their work in peace.

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