Page 56 - The Book of Rumi

disgusting hut with this old, ignorant woman is what you truly deserve!” The
king reproached his bird while stroking her injured feathers lovingly.
The falcon was shamefaced and looked at her master with utter surrender
and regret. If only she could speak, she would tell the king how sorry she was
for being so naïve and ungrateful. Without words, she begged the king for
forgiveness, admitting that she had taken her noble stature for granted.
With her expressive eyes, she confessed that even though she’d lost her
feathers and talons, she was not unduly distressed because they would eventu-
ally grow back; she implored that she would gladly tolerate the pain of her
diminished grandeur in the meantime, because she knew that the king was a
merciful master! If only the king could fi nd it in his heart to forgive her trans-
gression, just this once!

32