The Peacock
The Colorful Bird, they say, did not at first have the beautiful feathers in which he now takes so much pride. These, Juno, whose favorite he was, granted to him one day when he begged her for a line of feathers to distinguish him from the other birds.
Then, decked in his finery, gleaming with green, gold, purple, and blue, he strutted proudly among the birds.
All regarded him with envy. Even the most beautiful pheasant could see that his beauty was surpassed.
Presently the Colorful Bird saw an Eagle soaring high up in the blue sky and felt a desire to fly, as he had been accustomed to do.
Lifting his wings, he tried to rise from the ground. But the weight of his magnificent line held him down.
Instead of flying up to greet the first rays of the morning sun or to bathe in the rosy light among the floating clouds at sunset, he would have to walk the ground more encumbered and oppressed than any common barnyard fowl.
Moral of the story
Value freedom over appearance: It’s important to prioritize your freedom and abilities over external appearances.
Be careful what you wish: Sometimes, what seems desirable at first may come with unexpected challenges.
Questions for the children
- Why do you think the Colorful Bird wanted the special feathers from Juno?
- Can you think of a time when you wanted something, but later realized it came with difficulties you didn’t expect?
Post Note: This story is based on Aesop’s fable, written around 600 BC. In this retelling, we’ve used simpler words to make the story easier for young readers to understand.
