Page 40 - The Book of Rumi

The Sailor and the Professor

t was late in the day, and the professor needed to cross the water to get back
Ito the island where he lived. He jumped into the fi rst boat he chanced upon
and ordered the sailor to take him home as fast as he could. The boat slowly
pulled away from the harbor, and the professor made himself comfortable on
the deck. He took one long look at the sailor and decided that this man must
be illiterate, and before he could control his tongue, he blurted out pomp-
ously: “Have you ever been to school or studied any literature?”
“No,” said the sailor innocently.
“Then you’ve missed out on half of your life, my good man!”
The sailor was deeply insulted but didn’t respond, carrying on with his
work and waiting for an opportune moment to take his revenge.
Almost halfway through their journey, the weather turned, and a vicious
storm kicked up. The sailor had fi nally chanced upon his moment of sweet
revenge! Cunningly, he asked the professor, who was already white with fright:
“Most revered master professor, do you know how to swim?”
“Don’t be silly, of course not, my handsome and capable friend!” he stam-
mered squeamishly.
“Oh, what a pity! Because now you’re going to miss out on the rest of
your life! The boat is caught up in a whirlpool, and the only way out is to
swim! Now all your precious literature can’t help you one bit. You thought me
an idiot, and now look at you! Stuck in the mud like an ass!”

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