The Merchant and Parrot by Rumi Many years ago a Persian merchant was given a beautiful parrot as a gift by his Indian trading partners.
He kept the parrot in a formidable cage where he could watch her and listen to her melodious song every day when he rested after his long hours at work.
The time of the year came when he normally traveled to India on a buying trip,
And as is customary he asked his household help what they wanted him to bring back as gifts for them.
Each person asked for something close to his or her heart,
And so did the little green parrot.
My dear master,
My heart really desires nothing from my motherland,
She said morosely,
But should you come across a group of parrots like myself,
Would you please convey my greetings and tell them that I'm trapped in a cage in Persia and I miss them terribly.
Ask them whether they think it's fair that they are flying freely throughout the land while their cousin is slowly dying in captivity.
I beg you to ask them on my behalf for advice on how I should reckon my situation.
The merchant didn't think much of the parrot's demand but promised to find the birds and deliver her message exactly as she voiced it.
Once in India he diligently tended to his business but did not forget his promise of gifts for his servants or the parrot's message.
One day traveling from one town to the next he happened to come across a group of parrots chirping noisily in the forest.
He stopped his horse and delivered his parrot's message faithfully,
But before he could finish one of the parrots began to shiver uncontrollably,
Falling off the branch he'd been perched on and suddenly dying.
The merchant ran to save the parrot but the little bird looked perfectly dead.
He became distraught,
Feeling overwhelming guilt that he'd caused the poor bird's demise unnecessarily.
He wondered whether the fallen bird was related to his parrot and had literally died from grief hearing about his trapped cousin.
Was it not true that the human tongue is like an uneasy aggregation of rock and iron which when struck against each other can spark off a fire?
He regretted having recounted his parrot's message but there was nothing he could do now so he continued his duties until he finished them up and then returned home.
Upon his arrival he distributed the gifts that each servant had asked for but nothing to his parrot.
The bird who had been impatiently awaiting the response of her mates grew increasingly impatient and at the 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 finish 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 the words that leave our lips.
But before the merchant could finish his sentence the little parrot fell from his 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 repenting 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 carefully 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 but 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 your secret now that you're free.
That parrot had no relation to me but by his action taught me how to free myself confessed the jolly parrot.
Without actually speaking he helped me understand that my imprisonment was due to my beautiful song my talent for entertaining you and your guests.
My precious voice was in fact the cause of my servitude.
By his action he taught me that my freedom would lie in the act of dying in the sense of forsaking my attachment to my worldly talents which I had prized so highly.
The parrot bid her merchant master farewell for the last time and quickly flew out of sight.
