Page 35 - The Book of Rumi

could do now, so he continued with his duties until he fi nished them up, and
then he returned home.
Upon his arrival, he distributed the gifts that each servant had asked for
but said nothing to his parrot. The bird, who had been impatiently awaiting
the response of her mates, grew increasingly impatient and at last couldn’t
hold back any longer, asking the merchant: “So, where’s my gift? Tell me, what
did you see and hear from the Indian parrots?”
“I’d rather not remember!” said the merchant somberly.
“Master, what’s the matter? Why this long face?”
“I told your story to a group of parrots in the woods,” he said reluctantly.
“But, before I could fi nish, one of them began to shiver, then fell from the tree
and died! I’ll never forgive myself for causing the poor bird’s death. But what’s
the use? Once the arrow has left the bow it will never return, and so are words
that leave our lips.”
But before the merchant could fi nish his sentence, the little parrot fell

from her perch and dropped dead on the floor of the cage. The merchant
could hardly believe his eyes; he burst into tears, quickly blaming himself for
causing yet another innocent death. He became hysterical, cursing and repent-
ing, not comprehending why all this was happening. He walked back and forth
staring at his bird, who lay motionless on a heap of leaves on the floor of her

exquisite cage. He caressed the parrot’s feathers tenderly, remembering her
harmonious song, which had given him so much pleasure for so long.
After a while, the merchant hesitantly opened the dainty cage door and care-
fully picked up the bird, carrying her to the garden and laying her on the ground
while he dug a grave to bury her. Instantly, the parrot shot up to the nearest tree
and perched on a high branch, looking contentedly at her former master. The
merchant was awestruck, not fathoming the secret of the words he had uttered.
“My darling bird, I’m thrilled to see you’re alive and well, but tell me,
what did I say that prompted you to emulate your cousin in India? Tell me
your secret now that you’re free.”
“That parrot was no relation to me, but by his action he taught me how
to free myself!” confessed the jolly parrot. “Without actually speaking, he

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