The Fowler and The Birds
A bird hunter accidentally pricks himself, and a young bird mistakes his tears for remorse, but an older bird knows the truth.
Audio available for B1 version
Once upon a time, there was a man who liked to catch birds. He set up a smart trap in the forest to catch them. One day, while he was working on his trap, he accidentally poked his finger on a sharp stick. It hurt a lot, and he started to cry.
In a tree nearby, a young bird saw the man. The bird saw the man's tears and thought he was sad. "Look," the young bird said to an older bird next to it, "the man is crying. He must feel bad for catching and hurting us."
The older bird, who was very wise, shook its head and said, "Don't be fooled, my dear. Those tears are not because he feels sorry for us. They are because the sharp stick hurt him, not because he regrets what he did."
The older bird taught the young one to be careful and smart. It said that not everything is as it seems. Sometimes, people cry for different reasons, and not all tears mean they are sad for what they have done.
Once upon a time in a forest that was like the playground of all playgrounds—swing sets, monkey bars, and drama, oh my!—there was this guy. He's wandering around, setting up bird traps like they're toy puzzles. But then, oopsie-daisy! He pokes his finger on a really sharp stick.
"Ouchie!" he shouts, hopping on one foot. "That stick was sneakier than a ninja!"
High up in a tree, a young bird, all fluffy and cute, turns to an older bird who looks like he could tell some really cool campfire stories. The young one chirps, "Hey, look! That guy down there is crying. Do you think he's sorry for trying to catch us?"
The older bird, looking half like a wise grandpa and half like the funniest bird you've ever met, shakes his head. "Nah, kiddo. Those aren't 'I'm sorry for catching birds' tears. Those are 'Ouch, that stick hurt!' tears."
"But what if he's—"
"Nope, no 'what ifs,' little one. If he was really sorry, he'd be giving us a pile of yummy worms instead of making traps. Got it?"
The young bird thinks for a moment. "So you mean, don't just look at what it seems like, but think about what's really happening?"
"You got it, sport. Just because someone looks sad doesn't mean they're sorry. It could just mean they got a boo-boo. Remember, not everything shiny on the ground is a treasure, and not every cry means 'I'm sorry.'"
And so, the young bird nodded, a tiny light bulb going off in his birdie brain.
In a forest bright and deep,
A hunter sought birds, his prize to keep.
One day, while setting his trap so neat,
A sharp stick pricked him, oh what a feat!
From his eyes, tears did fall,
While a young bird watched, perched up tall.
"See," said the chick to an elder near,
"He cries for us, it's clear."
The elder bird, with wisdom vast,
Replied, "Little one, don't judge so fast.
His tears are not for us, you see,
But from the prick of that tree."
The young one learned that very day,
Not all tears mean the same, come what may.
Appearances can sometimes deceive,
So watch, think, and always believe.
Word Finder
Accidentally
By mistake, without planning or intention.Sharp
Something that can cut or hurt easily.Tears
Water drops from your eyes when you cry.Regret
Feeling sorry or bad about something done.Wise
Smart and knowing many things from experience.Fool
To trick or make someone believe something wrong.Careful
Paying close attention to avoid mistakes or danger.Trap
A device used to catch animals or people.Hurt
To cause pain or injury to someone.Seem
To appear or look like something is true.
Wandering
Moving around without a specific direction or plan.Traps
Devices used to catch or hold animals or things.Sneakier
More clever and secretive in a tricky way.Ninja
A fast and sneaky person, often in stories.Fluffy
Soft and light, like feathers or fur.Wise
Very smart and experienced, often giving good advice.Campfire
A small outdoor fire used for warmth or cooking.Pile
A group of things stacked together in one place.Yummy
Tasty or delicious, something that tastes really good.Treasure
Something very valuable, like gold or precious items.
Hunter
A person who searches for animals to catch.Prize
Something valuable you receive for doing well.Neat
Very well-organized and clean in appearance.Pricked
To get slightly hurt by something sharp.Perched
Sitting on something high, like a branch.Elder
A person or animal who is older and wiser.Judge
To decide about something before knowing everything.Appearances
How something looks on the outside, not inside.Deceive
To make someone believe something that’s not true.Wisdom
Knowledge gained from experience.
Understanding Questions
- Why did the man cry while working on his trap?
- Because he was sad.
- Because he was happy.
- Because he was frustrated.
- Because he was tired.
- What did the man use to try and catch birds in the forest?
- A net.
- A trap.
- A stick.
- A string.
- What did the young bird initially think about the man's tears?
- They were rain.
- They were food.
- They were funny.
- They were dangerous.
- How did the older bird explain the man's tears to the young bird?
- As a sign of weakness.
- As a sign of love.
- As a sign of joy.
- As a sign of fear.
- What lesson did the older bird teach the young bird about people's tears?
- They are not important.
- They show strength.
- They can mean many things.
- They are to be ignored.
- Why did the man cry while working on his trap?
- What did the man use to try and catch birds in the forest?
- What did the young bird initially think about the man's tears?
- How did the older bird explain the man's tears to the young bird?
- What lesson did the older bird teach the young bird about people's tears?
- Why did the man cry while working on his trap?
- What did the man use to try and catch birds in the forest?
- What did the young bird initially think about the man's tears?
- How did the older bird explain the man's tears to the young bird?
- What lesson did the older bird teach the young bird about people's tears?
Reflection Questions
- Why do you think the young bird initially thought the man was sad?
- How did the older bird know that the man's tears weren't from sadness or remorse?
- Can you think of a time when you or someone else misinterpreted someone's actions or emotions?
- What does this story teach us about understanding the real reasons behind people's actions?
- How can we apply the lesson from this story to make sure we're not fooled by appearances in our own lives?
Fable Quotes
Understand deeply, for not every tear dropped holds the weight of remorse.
Trust not the tears of a hunter, for appearances deceive, and true intentions lie hidden within.
Through the lens of wisdom, even the most convincing tears can't hide the truth.
Just One More Fable
- Imitation
- Consequences
The Donkey and the Pig
The donkey imitates the pig's trick of pretending to be sick for extra care, but stops when he realizes the pig gets killed for food.
- Teamwork
- Survival
The Hunter and the Quails
Quails in a beautiful forest outsmarted a hunter by flying up together, carrying the net and escaping, ensuring their safety and unity.
- Teamwork
- Equality
The Lion Going to War
A lion assigns every animal a task to protect the forest, showing that everyone has a unique talent.
- Acceptance
- Understanding
The Rivers and The Sea
Three Rivers confront the Sea for turning their fresh water salty, but realize it's their nature to flow into it.