Fables, stories are the ones I prefer most. They are simple and the moral meanings are easily understood. So much truth is out there, for all of us to discover.

This fable of the crow moving is used to reflect ones who do not know how to solve problems the right way, therefore lead to the still presence of the problem. The moral of the story is profound, but because the context is easy to understand, everyone can learn its message quickly.

There was a crow who lived in a tree. Every sunset his neighbors, the joyful magpie, the oriole, the swallow and the parrot would invite him to go bathing in the river.

Yet the crow didn’t like to bathe, so he said, “What bath? It’s too much trouble. I’m not going.” Once, twice, and three times the crow answered his friends in this way. From then on, no one ever invited him to go bathing.

Summer came, everyone was busy cleaning their nests. The crow was at home sleeping.

The friendly oriole went to the crow’s house. “Brother Crow, everyone’s cleaning up the neighborhood. You should clean up your house a little, too.”

The crow answered angrily, “Why clean? you like cleanness, then go clean. Don’t meddle in my affairs.”

The oriole couldn’t persuade the crow, so she left.

The crow wouldn’t bathe and wouldn’t clean his house. Soon, his body and nest became dirty and smelly. His neighbors didn’t want to play with him anymore. Everybody who saw him would pinch their noses and quickly walk away.

When the crow saw that no one liked him, he became furious. He moved away!

He flew and flew, farther and farther. He was determined to find a better home.
He flew for 3 days and 3 nights. Still he couldn’t find one.

Finally, he was so tired he couldn’t fly anymore. He stopped at a banyan tree to rest.

On one branch, a pigeon was already resting. Since the crow seemed so tired from flying, she couldn’t hold back her curiosity. She asked, “Mr. Crow, it seems as if you have some urgent matter to take care of. Could I help you with anything?”

The tired crow chuckled weakly, “It’s really nothing. I only wanted to find a new home. Thanks for your concern.”

The pigeon was very curious, so she continued asking, “Where are you moving to? Weren’t you happy at your old place?”

The crow replied, “Anywhere else would be better. I couldn’t continue living at the old place.”

“Why?” the pigeon asked again.

The crow answered gloomily, “My neighbors think that I’m dirty, that I’m smelly. I have to move so they won’t hate me.”

The pigeon heard him and laughed, “Mr. Crow, you think by moving will be everything solved? If you don’t change your untidy habit, not matter where you move to, no one will like you.”

Tag: Crow moves away