The Boy Who Drew in the Mud and Other Parables

8/13/2019 The Boy Who Drew in the Mud and Other Parables

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The Boy Who Drew in the Mud

and other parablesZachary Harper

Published by Zachary Harper

Smashwords EditionCopyright 2010 Zachary Harper

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2/28

The Boy Who Drew In The Mud

%here once was a boy who drew in the mud" &ow' this was (uite an ordinary boy' and his drawings were o# nothing in

particular' and o# no signi#icant artistry" &onetheless' the boy would' as o#ten as he could escape #rom the various

chores and homewor) everyone seemed to en*oy giving him' spend hours with a stic)' or maybe *ust his #ingers' or

occasionally a carrot or bit o# celery he had smuggled into his poc)et to avoid eating' drawing and drawing in the bigpatch o# mud on the edge o# his bac)yard' near the garden his neighbor had"

&ow' this neighbor was (uite an ordinary neighbor' and li)e all (uite ordinary neighbors' was particularly nosy in

matters he had no business being nosy in' and not nearly nosy enough in matters he well should have been nosy about"

So this neighbor would watch the young boy drawing in the mud all a#ternoon long as the s)y was starting to dar)en

and the clouds were starting to build and blac)en li)e a cloud o# ash in a small room' and he would yell #rom his porch

where he sat' +,oy- .hy do you draw in the mud/ t will *ust be washed away when the rain comes in' and you will bele#t with nothing- ,ut the boy would *ust loo) at him with those big brown childeyes' give a hal#hearted shrug' and

return to his scribbling" 3nd when the rain came' the boy would sit and watch as it washed away' and the neighbor

would shout +,oy- .hat did tell you- &ow you must start #rom the beginning- ,ut the boy would *ust loo) at him

with those big brown childeyes' and give a big grin' and return to his watching"

4or as long as the neighbor could remember' this would happen every time it would rain" 5et never did the boy tire o#

the game6 he would draw' and watch as it would wash away" 3nd the neighbor thought' +%his boy must be mad- %hereis no reason why he should so en*oy all his wor) and all his e##ort wasting away into the ground" .hy' it is (uite

unnatural- &e7t time' will go right up to the boy and drag him away #rom his mud' and will e7plain to him e7actlyhow these things should be done- .ith a pencil and clean sheet o# paper' or maybe a scrap o# charcoal #rom my

#ireplace- 5es' will teach him how to draw properly' on proper things-

So the ne7t time he wal)ed out on his porch and saw the boy drawing in the mud' he marched his way to where the boy

stood' pu##ed out his chest' and loo)ed straight down his nose' saying +,oy- 5ou come with me right now- %his is (uite

unnatural" 8et us go get a pencil and a clean sheet o# paper' or maybe a scrap o# charcoal #rom my #ireplace' and will

teach you how to draw properly' on proper things- ,ut the boy *ust loo)ed at him with those big brown childeyes' andshoo) his head" %he neighbor' being' li)e all ordinary neighbors' (uite stubborn' stomped his little dress shoe on the

grass and said' +5ou must be mad- %here is no reason #or you to en*oy all your wor) and e##ort wasting away into the

ground- ,ut the boy *ust loo)ed at him with those big brown childeyes' and gave a big smile' and said' +.ait one

moment"

%he boy pointed down to the patch o# mud where had been busy drawing an immense battle' with giants on one side

with massive raised clubs' and )nights on stic)horses with big pointed lances guarding little stic)princesses wearingpointy stic)hats" 3nd a dragon with a long' curly nec) was busy breathing #ire on a bunch o# little stic)peasants'

while a bunch o# stic)centaurs surrounded it #rom all sides' pointy bows and pointy arrows #lying all about" 3s a big

clap o# thunder resounded about the yard' the neighbor said' + am too late- %his will be ruined' and you must start #rom

the beginning-

%hen it began to rain"

%he entire drawing seemed to stir to li#e as the water ran across it in sheets' and the tric)les and streams o# rain throughthe #luid mud breathed movement into all the #igures" %he )nights were suddenly charging and the giants swinging their

clubs down as the princesses swooned and #ell to the #loor" %he dragons #ire *etted about' and the peasants collapsed in

terror' as the centaurs rode in circles' wildly shooting" 3rmies clashed and lovers met' and some men ran away li)e

cowards' while others rode #orth into death and #ame" %he scene swayed about' and' li)e a play' all the #igures did their

part" 3nd the boy and the neighbor watched together' wordless' with big grins on their #aces"


3/28

The Gem

%here once was a man with little to love" &ot that he was particularly lonely' mind you" &or was he a bore" &o' this

man simply had not yet #ound something to set his heart and hopes a#lame" 4or he was a pic)y man' and he )new your

heart can only burn brightest once' and that i# you let your hopes turn to ash' #ew men #ind a phoeni7 to rise #rom them"

So he was a care#ul man' and he lived in careless times' #or many men lost all that was most precious to them" So this

man was a care#ul man"

He once vacationed out on a mountain side' and though the wilderness pleased him' he vacationed there more because

it made him miss the city then that the city made him miss the wilderness" He would watch a sunrise through the pea)s

and see the clouds roll across the deep valley li)e smo)e #rom a thousand cannons' and he would smile and be contentwith his tiny home on a busy street"

,ut one day' as he wal)ed down a streambed lately dried when the clouds were empty and le#t too little water in this

place and too much in another' he spied a beauti#ul gem amidst the so#t dirt where once a do$en #ish had made their

homes" His eyes lit up and his soul stirred and stared' and he couldn9t loo) away" He loved the gem' and it was good"

%he man too) the gem home' and held it tight in his hand" .hen he was sad' he would #eel it in his palm' and when he

was happy he would roll it across his )nuc)les' and he wished to never lose it"

3s we said' he was a care#ul man' and he lived in careless times' and as he thought more and more about it' he became

#illed with a worry deep in his stomach' and it grew every day and terri#ied him' and soon he could only clench his gem

hard in his #ist' and never let go" 4inally' he as)ed his neighbor' a good but careless man' what he could do to ease his

worry"

:.ell' i# you hold them gem in your hand' the ground could trip you and you could drop it" ;r a man could sha)e your

hand and steal it" ;r you could #all asleep and lose it" Such things are common these days" nstead' you should )eep it

in your poc)et' #or then it would be sa#e' and you could ease your worry":

So the man began to )eep the gem in his poc)et" .hen he was sad he would gently touch it' and when he was happy'

he would roll it between his #ingers' and he wished to never lose it"

,ut a#ter some time' he again began to worry' and always he was nervous and would sweat li)e it was summer' and hismind would never cease running to and #ro li)e a small child' and soon he could only push his palm tight to his poc)et'

and never let go" 4inally' he as)ed his pro#essor' a good but careless man' what he could do to ease his worry":.ell' i# you )eep the gem in your poc)et' a hole could #orm and you could drop it" ;r a man could distract you and

steal it" ;r you could wash your pants and lose it" Such things are common these days" ndeed' you should buy a chain

and )eep it around your nec)' #or then it would be sa#e' and you could ease your worry":

So the man bought a chain and )ept it around his nec)" .hen he was sad he would press it to his heart' and when he

was happy it would beat against his chest' and he wished to never lose it"

,ut a#ter some time' he again began to worry' and always he was tense' and to leave his home would #ill him with such

terror that his muscles #elt as i# he had run a thousand miles' and soon all he could do was hold his hand hard to his

nec) and never let go" 4inally' he as)ed his bishop' a good and care#ul man' what he could do to ease the worry"

:.ell' i# you )eep the gem on a chain' the rain could rust it and you could drop it" ;r a man could rob you and steal it"

;r you could #orget to clasp it well and lose it" Such things are common these days" ndeed' you should swallow it' #or

then it would be sa#e' and you could ease your worry":

:,ut bishop-: cried the man' :How will be able to en*oy its beauty i# swallow it/ How can #eel it when am sad'

and grasp it when am happy/ wish to love it' not swallow it-:

:.ell': answered the bishop' :when you clenched it hard in your #irst' you were swallowing it" 3nd when you pushed

your palm tight to your poc)et' you were swallowing it" 3nd when you held your hand hard to your nec)' you were

swallowing it" 5ou are right to say that you cannot love something you have swallowed' but i# you do not swallow it'

there is naught you can do to )eep it sa#e #rom all things" %ruly' one can only love something one can lose":


4/28

So the man went home' and whenever he was grew terri#ied and grasped his gem too tightly' he remembered the

bishops words' and loved it instead o# swallowed it" 3nd as he grew older' he worried less and less' #or he loved it too

much to lose it easily"


5/28

The Star That Fell

based on a story by five-year old Jenna

;nce upon a time' #or all good stories begin as such' there was a cat' a dog' and a goose who all played together in the#ields that sprawled out behind the village #arms" %he hills rolled and rumbled as #ar as their tiny eyes could see' and

the cat would stretch out in the so#t cornhus)s while the dog bounded about digging up the blac) soil and the goose

would #lap his big wings and #ly about as close to the ground as his courageous little heart would let him"

;ne night' as the stars began to win) down at the village homes and the sun yawned and settled down in bed behind the

distant mountains' the cat loo)ed up into the #ading s)y and saw a single star straighten itsel#' ta)e a step #orward' and

slowly #all into the #ields where the cat daily la$ed" nable to #ind who the star had been #or' all three went with their heads down bac) towards the #ield where the lost star

has landed" ,ut as they passed the edge o# the evergreen #orest' a great dar) something lumbered out into the road and

let out a terri#ying roar that would scare any o# us who are not meant to be heroes" ,ut the cat was brave' and the dog

was brave' and the goose was hard o# hearing and sight' and was also a little brave' and all three approached it" 3nd by


6/28

the light o# the star in the cats paw' the great dar) something was no more than a giant pump)inhead with scary cut

eyes and a *agged mouth"

:=r" Pump)in-: they cried' :Have you lost anything/:

:ndeed have': replied the pump)in' and the cat hurried #orward' star in paw" : have lost a star' and it cost me very

much to buy it #rom the moon": Happily' all three #riends rushed #orward" :Here it is' =r" Pump)in- .e #ound it in the

#ield-::So you have- t is so )ind o# you to bring it to me- have #ound many things while loo)ing #or this star' and have

)ept them in case had to buy another star' but your )indness and braver have made it all unnecessary' so you may ta)e

all have #ound-:

%he pump)in pulled out the s(uirrel9s nutcrac)er' and the horse9s shoes' and the mole9s glasses' and gave them to the

dog to carry on his thic) shoulders" 3nd the pump)in placed his star in his mouth and lit up as bright as the sun' and no

longer loo)ed dar) and scary' but loo)ed as any *ac)olantern should-

So they returned all the lost belongings' and the s(uirrel could eat' and the horse could run' and the mole could seeagain" %hough the dog wished he had a startree' and though the goose always loo)ed up a#raid the s)y was crumbling

down' all three )new they had done the right thing' and any #alling stars would sa#ely #ind their owners as long as they

were alive"


7/28

The o-Boy

a story for Jenna and Braden

%here once was a very naughty boy' and always his mother as)ed him to help around the house' or pull a #ew weeds#rom the garden' or chop some trees #or the #ire' and always the little boy said :&o": ,ut the mother loved him dearly'

#or her husband was o## in a war' and she didn9t want the little boy to become too sad' and so she would do much o# the

wor)"

&ow' the cottage where they lived was at the edge o# a #orest where many things live that we don9t see o#ten anymore"

3t their particular edge lived some very mischievous pi7ies' who li)ed nothing else than to play tric)s on little boys

when they were naughty" ;ne day' as one o# the pi7ies was pulling petals #rom the roses beneath the house and ma)inghats #or all his #riends out o# them' he heard the little boys mother tal)ing"

:Son- .inter is coming and the nights are getting cold' and we need #irewood- ?o and gather us some )indling so that

we may stay warm' #or am too busy ma)ing dinner":

,ut the little boy said :&o: and re#used to go outside' and instead stayed nice and warm in his little bed ne7t to the

window that he loved so dearly' #or his bed was near to the #ire" 3nd though the #lames would #lic)er and get very low'

still he was warm and thought not about needing more )indling" .ell' as night #ell' and as the #ire dimmed and the boys

mother grew cold' the pi7ies called out to the Eastern .ind' and as)ed #or a #avor" So the Eastern .ind' who owedmany #avors to the pi7ies' came and blew hard into the window and down the chimney' and blew out the #ire"

%he little boys mother called out' :Son- %he Eastern .ind has put out our #ire' did you gather the )indling/: 3nd the

little boy called out :&o': and the mother grew stern" :5ou must go outside and gather )indling be#ore it becomes too

cold-:

,ut be#ore the little boy could don his *ac)et and boots' the pi7ies called out to the .estern .ind' and as)ed #or a

#avor" So the .estern .ind' who owned many #avors to the pi7ies' came and dropped much snow down onto the

cottage' and the Eastern .ind blew it all about' so that no one could go outside without becoming very sic)"

>nable to get )indling' the mother )new that without a #ire' they would surely #ree$e" So she loo)ed about the house'

and saw that only the little boys bed would serve to )eep them warm #or the storm' so she too) her a7e and chopped upthe little boys bed" 3nd though the little boy cried and cried and cried' and was #orced to sleep on the #loor ne7t to the

#ire with nothing but a #ew blan)ets' the pi7ies re*oiced' #or they )new that ne7t time the little boy would surely help

his mother out' i# only to ma)e sure he didn9t lose something else that he loved so dearly"


8/28

The Fable of the !i"# the $orse# and the Do"

;n a com#ortable #arm surrounded by acres o# rolling hills and gently swaying trees' there lived a Pig' a Horse' and a

Dog" %he Dog guarded the #arm' scaring o## the wolves and the #o7es that tried to steal into the pens in the dar) o#

night6 the Horse pulled the plows through the #ields and the carts into town6 the Pig ate and ate' in hopes o# bringing a

good price at mar)et" Every morning' a#ter the rooster was roused by the sun' the #armer would bring out their meals6

the Dog would get a large bowl o# diced lamb and carrots' the Horse a trough with sweet #eed and hay' while the Pigwould get a buc)et o# slop' #illed to the brim"

&ow' one day' the Pig loo)ed over at the Dogs bowl' and loo)ed over at the Horses trough' and became *ealous" +.hy

should they have such choice #oods while have only this slop/ So he began to plot" .hen a clever idea came to him'

he called the Horse over"

+4riend Horse' loo) at how wonder#ul the Dogs meal is" %here is lamb' sweet and succulent' and carrots' which )now

you have a tooth #or" Every day he #easts on these' while you have only your grain and molasses and nothing but my

slop- s it not un#air that we never get to taste such delicacies/ 8et us divide all o# our #ood in three parts' and each

share our #ood so that we do not tire o# our mundane meals" 5ou can share o# the Dogs carrots' and will ta)e some the

8amb' and together we will grow strong-

So the Horse' who did indeed have a tooth #or carrots' heartily agreed" %he ne7t morning' when the rooster greeted thesun and the #armer brought out the daily lunch' the Horse and the Pig approached the Dog and too) his bowl' and each

ate a portion o# his #ood' and each le#t the Dog with a portion o# theirs"

,ut though the Pig could eat the lamb' and the Horse could eat the carrots' the Dog could not eat either the sweetened

grains o# the Horse' nor the dirty slop o# the Pig" 3nd as the days wore on' the Dog wea)ened' and eventually died"

%he ne7t night' a .ol# crept into the #arm' vicious and hungry' but the Dog was not there to alert the #armer" So the

.ol# stal)ed into the Pigs cage and ate the Pig' and as he le#t' the Horse saw the .ol# and reared' so the .ol# bit theHorses leg be#ore running o##' #ull and satis#ied" %he ne7t morning' the #armer saw the Horse could no longer wor)' #or

the bite was deep" His heart torn with sadness' the #armer too) the Horse behind the barn and shot him"


9/28

The Fable of the %oun" Turtle

%here once was a young turtle' his shell had *ust hardened and his mother' though prone to worrying' #inally let him out

to play with the rest o# the animals"

So the young turtle went #irst towards the trees' and in the branches sat a charm o# tiny #inches' singing their little

hearts out" 3nd the young turtle called out to them' +8ittle birds- 8ittle birds- 5ou sing so beauti#ully- %each me how to

sing- ,ut no matter how hard they tried' the #inches could not teach the turtle to sing" %he young turtle was sad' and

when he le#t' the #inches worried to each other' saying +How sweet is the young turtle' though he can@t sing" hope he

will visit us again"

%he young turtle ne7t went towards a pond' and on the lily pads were a )not o# tiny #rogs' *umping to and #ro as high asthey could" 3nd the young turtle called out to them' +8ittle #rogs- 8ittle #rogs- 5ou *ump so high- %each me how to

*ump- ,ut no matter how hard they tried' the #rogs could not teach the turtle to *ump" %he young turtle was sad' and

when he le#t' the #rogs worried to each other' saying +How sweet is the young turtle' though he can@t *ump" hope he

will visit us again"

%he young turtle ne7t went towards a #ield' and in the grass ran a coterie o# prairie dogs' digging and digging as #ast as

they could in the pac)ed ground" 3nd the young turtle called out to them' +8ittle dogs- 8ittle dogs- 5ou dig so #ast-

%each me how to dig- ,ut no matter how hard they tried' the prairie dogs could not teach the turtle to dig in the

pac)ed ground" %he young turtle was sad' and when he le#t' the prairie dogs worried to each other' saying +How sweetis the young turtle' though he can@t dig" hope he will visit us again"

Home the young turtle went' #ace long and heart heavy' #or he could do nothing the other animals could do" 3s he

wal)ed' he passed by an ancient' wi$ened tortoise who' though old and slow' )new much o# what was happening in the

#orest" .hen he saw the young turtle wal)ing so de*ected' he called out +5oung turtle- 5oung turtle- .hy is your #ace

long and your heart heavy/ %he turtle replied' + can not sing li)e the birds' nor *ump li)e the #rogs' nor dig li)e the

dogs- can do nothing but #eel sorrow' so will go home and never tal) to the other animals again"

%he old tortoise replied' +Early this morning' saw a charm o# #inches #ly by' and they were saying AHow sweet is the

young turtle' though he can@t sing" hope he will visit us again"@ 3t noon' saw a )not o# #rogs hop by' and they were

saying AHow sweet is the young turtle' though he can@t *ump" hope he will visit us again"@ %his evening' saw a

coterie o# prairie dogs wal) by' and they were saying AHow sweet is the young turtle' though he can@t dig" hope he

will visit us again"@ .hat need you to sing' when you have the love o# the birds/ .hat need you to *ump' when you

have the love o# the #rogs/ .hat need you to dig' when you have the love o# the dogs/ 5our talent is to love' and it is#ar greater to have love than to be able to do all the things you wish to do" # you could sing but cannot love' who would

you sing to/ # you could *ump but cannot love' where would you *ump to/ # you could dig but cannot love' who

would you dig with/ 8ittle turtle' little turtle' you have the greatest gi#t o# all-

So the little turtle went home with a happy #ace and a light heart' and when he wished to hear a song' he went to the

birds to play" 3nd when he wished to see an acrobat' he went to the #rogs to play" 3nd when he wished to e7plore the

earth' he went to the prairie dogs to play" %he little turtle was never lonely' and grew to be as old and wi$ened as the

ancient tortoise"


10/28

The Fable of the Three Birds

;n the edge o# a #orest lived three birds a songbird' a crow' and a moc)ingbird" Every morning' the songbird wo)e and

#lew to the highest branch in her tree to sing to the #orest a most beauti#ul song B the *oy o# her tiny heart bubbled and

#i$$led and burst out through her bea)' and the song would #loat along the wind and into the s)y " ,ut the crow' a nasty

and spite#ul beast' would daily land on her branch' and with the smell o# carrion on his breath' lambasted the littlesongbird with *eers and biting words" +.ho do you sing to' little bird/ %he wind/ %he s)y/ %hey hear you not' and they

en*oy it not- How your little tweets and hoots are wasted on dea# ears' and how you do ma)e such a #ool o# yoursel# to

the #orest- 3nd the moc)ingbird' a misshapen and dar)minded beast' would daily land on her branch and sing his

own moc)ing song' but it had not the beauty or heart o# the songbirds' and it@s song would #all #lat to the #orest #loor"

;ne day' a torrent raged upon the trees' and the branches were whipped to and #ro' and the birds )new that it was only a

matter o# time be#ore the tree they lived in was swept away" ,ut the songbird worried not' and #lew to the highestbranch and sang' the wind crashing li)e waves on the tree' but her voice #lying ever higher' and the rain couldn@t drown

her melody out" %he crow #lew to her branch' and while the branch swung wildly' laughed a most hideous laugh' and

said +.hy sing such a beauti#ul song' poor wretch/ Don@t you )now this tree will be carried o##' with us in it/ %his

storm will end us' and no one will ever hear you sing again- 3nd the crow' with his chest pu##ed and his pride

bursting' laughed and wal)ed to the edge o# the branch' where the wind pic)ed him up and threw him o## deep into the

#orest" 3nd the moc)ingbird waddled his way to the songbird' and blasted his dissonant tune that #ell even #aster than

the rain' stopping only to cac)le at the songbird' until the wind pic)ed him up and threw him a#ter the crow" 3nd as thestorm grew stronger' so did the songbirds song' until she too was thrown into the #orest"

%he ne7t morning' the three birds' with their wings bro)en and nests scattered about' sat on the #orest #loor' yet still the

songbird began to sing her most beauti#ul tune' and it was li#ted up into the #reshly cleaned #orest' and seemed to wash

it again with her soul#ul cry" 3nd the crow grew hot with #ury' yelling +.hat ma)es you sing' damned #ool- 5our wing

is bro)e and nest is shattered' and there is still no one to hear you- 3nd the moc)ingbird sang his most moc)ing song'

sha)ing the leaves and boiling the puddles' and the screeches burrowed into the ground li)e worms"

,ut the songbird@s song was carried by the wind' and reached the ear o# an elderly woman who wal)ed the #orest' andhad o#ten stopped to listen to the songbird" She )new the voice' and #ound the songbird with her bro)en wing and

scattered nest' and scooped both up and brought them home" She mended the wing and rebuilt the nest in a light#i7ture

above her #ront door' and every morning the songbird would sing #or the old woman' and every night the old woman

would #eed the songbird' and both pleased each other@s soul greatly"


11/28

& !arable in Three !arts# with 'amentations

!art (ne

%here once was a shepherd in a small village where wolves in wool and violent bears roamed #reely" He was a #aith#ulyet aloo# man' and wanted nothing more then to bring as many sheep to pasture as he could" He thought' +# buy as

many sheep as can and bring them to pasture' soon will be able to buy even more sheep' and it will not matter i# the

wolves and bears ta)e some o# my #loc)' #or will be )eeping even more sa#e- So he bought more sheep' and

e7panded his #loc)" .hen the wolves snuc) in with their sheep s)ins' he did nothing6 and when the bears charged in

with their vicious claws' he did nothing B #or he )new that #or every sheep he lost' he could simply buy two more"

!art Two

%here once was a shepherd in a small village where wolves in wool and violent bears roamed #reely" He was a mee)

but #oolish man' and wanted nothing more then #or the sheep to love him and #ollow him without need o# sta## or dog"

He thought' +# dress mysel# in wool and on my hands and )nees lead them as i# am one o# them' then they will love

me and willingly #ollow me to sa#ety- So he wore thic) wool' and on all #ours baaed to them' and they loved him and

#ollowed him" .hen the wolves snuc) in with their sheep s)ins' he could not see them6 and when the bears charged in

with their vicious claws' he could not see them B #or his eyes were on the sheep who loved him' and he could not see

#ar enough to )eep them sa#e"

!art Three

%here once was a shepherd in a small village where wolves in sheeps)ins and violent bears roamed #reely" He was a

#aith#ul and mee) man' but he was warmhearted and wise' and wanted nothing more then to )eep his sheep sa#e #rom

harm" He thought' +# learn to )now my sheep by sight and sound' and i# stay alert and have my sling always in my

hand' than will )now when the wolves slin) into my #loc)' and will easily scare o## the savage bears be#ore they cancause harm- So he tended his #loc) closely' and stayed on guard #or danger' with sling and stone always in hand"

.hen the wolves snuc) in with their sheep s)ins' he )new' and chased them away6 and when the bears charged in with

their vicious claws' he saw them #rom a#ar' and (uic)ly shot stones to )eep them at bay B #or he loved his sheep' and

until his death he protected them #rom all danger"

'amentations

;h- #allen shepherds

.ho do you protect/%o where do you lead/5ou' who are more li)e .olves than 8ions-

5ou' who are more li)e %hieves than Princes-

.hy do you see) treasures soon to be rotten/

.hy do you see) love in mouths o# such men/

?one are the Davids' with croo) and sling"

8ost are the acobs' their time is waning"

,ro)en is =oses@ sta##' tossed to the sea'

%he #loc) scattered and beat'%reated with A#orce and severity"@

;h- #orgotten E$e)iel

5our words echo alone-

5our chariot not to be #lown-

=end these bro)en pastures' raise your dead"

?ather these lost sheep and #eed them your bread"

,ring us those days' the temple restored'

.hen shepherds will guide' their sheep each adored-


12/28

& !arable in Two !arts

!art (ne

n a small village' there lived two men who' the previous season' had each bought nearly identical #ields directly across

the road #rom each other" ,oth swaths o# land were the same si$e' touching the same river' and got the same rain and

sun" %he #armers both spent days and wee)s tilling and planting and waiting #or their crops to #inally pierce the groundand reach out #or the s)y" 3nd when they #inally did' and they could wade through their seas o# wheat' the #irst #armer

noticed a strange dissonance in the #arms B the second #armer had managed to grow twice the wheat he had"

A&ow@' the #irst #armer thought' A have the same land as he' the same acreage' on the same river' catching the same

rain" 3nd was never la$y6 got up in the morning to do the same wor) at the same time' we both e(ually sweat and

bled under the bright' bright sun" 5et his #ield has grown double o# mine"@

%his #armer' so un*ust#ully treated' went be#ore a *udge and as)ed #or their wheat to be added together and split' so that

both received the same amount o# grain #or the same amount o# sweat" A5our Honor'@ the #irst #armer began' A am no

sloth' and have done my best' but no matter the wor) have put into the ground' nature has thwarted my way" t is my

right to be given a #air years wage #or a #air years wor)' and since ' no stranger to toil' did spend as much time as my

neighbor in the dirt and mud' we should end up with same reward" Punish me not #or the mysteries o# nature' all as)

#or is the *ustice o# #airness"@

%he *udge' who could #ind no #ault in such an argument' too) their wheat and combined them' and split it in hal# todistribute to the both o# them"

,ut the ne7t year' when the wor) began' the second #armer remembered this lesson' and when it came time to plant' he

planted hal# as much" 3nd when' at the end o# the year' the neighbor noticed that hal# the #ield lay #allow' he went

be#ore the *udge"

A5our Honor'@ the #irst #armer #umed' Amy neighbor has le#t hal# his land empty' #or nature has made his path easy" He

has done hal# the wor) that have done' he has sweat hal# the sweat' and he has bled hal# the blood' yet he has reaped

the same crops as me" t is my right to be given a #air years wage #or a #air years wor)' and since ' no stranger to toil'

did spend twice as much time as my neighbor in the dirt and mud' why should we end up with the same reward/ Punish

me not #or the mysteries o# nature' all as) #or is the *ustice o# #airness"@

%he *udge' who could #ind no #ault in such an argument' too) the #allow lands and gave them to the #irst #armer' so that

all would be #air"!art Two

n a small village' there lived two brothers who' years be#ore' had each been born on the same day #rom the same

womb' twins #rom conception" ,oth boys were o# the same si$e' o# the same #amily' and got the same teachings and

beatings" %he brothers both wor)ed the #ields #or their neighbor and spent wee)s wor)ing' li#ting and running and

pushing and pulling" ,ut any who watched would notice a strange dissonance in the twins B the second brother couldli#t more' run #aster' push #urther' and pull harder' and was paid more than the #irst"

A&ow@' the #irst brother thought' A have the same blood as he' the same mother' and the same teachings and beatings"

3nd am never la$y B li#t and run and push and pull as hard as my muscles allow' and sweat and bleed under the

bright' bright sun" 5et he is stronger and #aster' and his wor) is worth double o# mine"@

So this brother' so un*ust#ully treated' went be#ore a *udge and as)ed #or the pay to be added together and split' so that

both received the same amount o# pay #or the same amount o# sweat" A5our Honor'@ the #irst brother began' A am no

sloth' and have done my best' but no matter the wor) can do' nature has thwarted my way" t is my right to be given

a #air years wage #or a #air years wor)' and since ' no stranger to toil' did spend as much time as my brother in the dirt

and mud' we should end up with the same reward" Punish me not #or the mysteries o# nature' all as) #or is the *ustice

o# #airness"@

%he *udge' who could #ind no #ault in such an argument' too) their pay and combined them' and split it in hal# to

distribute to the both o# them"


13/28

,ut the ne7t year' when the wor) began' the second brother remembered this lesson' and when it came time to li#t' he

li#ted hal# as much6 and when it came time to run' he ran hal# as #ast6 and when it came time to push' he pushed hal# as

#ar6 and when it came time to pull' he pulled hal# as hard


14/28

For the )hild at $eart# on a *ainy Day

.hen the rain #ell' the s)y split

sending hal# itsel# down'

#ound the ground and #it

into puddles and pits"

%he moon shattered'

now a thousand little discs'

that dropped and pitterpattered'

in a thousand places scattered"

8oo)- the clouds #lee

and where once was water

now' there' heavens be-

n each one' the moon@s children smile'

haloed in stars'

creation now an ethereal tiledecorating the streets with empyrean style-

Children- remember- remove your shoes'

#or where heaven has #allen'?od@s love does e##use"

4or moon and stars were #irst a gi#t

to tiredeyed angels in the #irmament'

so whenever the s)y does lovingly ri#t

your toes must show ever so swi#t"

.hen the moon #inally gathers her children

and marshals them o## as a s(uadronand the s)y turns Ato a #irered cauldronand the sun pee)s over the grassy #ence

and the waters begin to rinse

the air with a scattered #og'

re*oice- and remember your muddy #ootprints

will #loat li)e a soothing incense

to ?od@s own throne"


15/28

Minnow

%he water slowly lea)ed out

and away

bac) to its home

bac) #rom where it cameleaving behind a puddle

small in si$e

a miniature la)ewhere the pond had over#lowed with the rain"

3 small minnow was le#t behind'

he@d been

carried along with the water

stolen #rom his home

in the pond

away #rom his schoolto this #oreign

hole in the ground"

3s the hours passed and

the sun rose

the puddle began to

evaporate

with the minnowinside

slowly watching

his #ate"

Patiently he waited #or

the moment

when he@d be hal# in and

hal# not

li)e a #ish out o#

well'you )now"

%hen the sun was blotted'

heat subsided'

as a #ace

o# a small boy'

chubby

and smilingreplaced the

clouds in heaven@s lining"

&ow the minnow waited

to be s(uashed

as little boys

were prone to do

to the helpelessbrother #ishes

who washed up on shore"


16/28

%he hands closed in'

grabbed our

minnow #riend'

and pulled him out o# the water'

to seal his #ateand end his story"

3s minnow contemplated

whether

a minnow heaven e7isted

or not'

something strange

happened whenhe was dropped"

So now' minnow must

slowly ba)e

i# he

survived the #all'

oh'

woe to the little #ish"

,ut it wasn@t groundrushing

to his tiny head'

he hit water'

the la)e'

instead"

His savior

had come'in the #orm

o# a little boy'

waving #rom the shorewith the same chubby smile"

5ou never )now

which little boys

s(uish #ish andwhich ones

save them"


17/28

The 'ittle Toy

%he little toy lay on the ground where he #ell

.hen the door had shut a little too #ast

3nd *arred the table' shoo) the room'

Sending the poor little toy to his doom"

Shattered' bro)en' beaten and bruised'

%he #all had le#t him in pieces' in parts'His le#t leg sliding across the #loor'

His right arm crumpled up by the door'

His le#t hand barely hanging on'

.hile his head was scratched' the paint nearly gone"

.hat would the little boy thin)' what would he do'

.hen he came home to #ind his #avorite toy #allen' split in two/

.ould he cry and hold his parts up high/

.ould he throw his remains towards the bright blue s)y/

.ould he grow angry' bury him #ar underground/.ould he sullenly wal) away without a sound/

How could the boy love a toy no longer #it

%o be all he had in his e7pansive mind/

3 policeman' a cowboy' an astronaut'

Courageous' romantic' humble and )ind/

.here once his limbs had been strong as stone'

%he years had wearied him down past the bone'

%he burden o# li#e had grown and grown'

3nd now' now he would be ever alone"

%he door crea)ed open' there was the patter o# #eet'

3nd the sound o# a young boys cry o# de#eat

3s he saw his #avorite toy scattered about6

+.hat had happened to the toy once so stout/

,ut the little boys #ather leaned over his son

3nd soothed the child' calmed the storm'

?athered the legs' the arms' the head'

.hile the little toy thought' +Surely' am dead"

%he son watched with tear stained chee)s

3s the #ather placed the pieces together so neat'3nd with a tiny tool and steady hands

Put the little toy all together again"

%riumphant' the son li#ted the little toy

4or what the #all had bro)en his #ather had #i7ed'

3nd what had split apart' now was even stronger stitched6

%hus' the little boy loved even more

%he little toy that had #allen to the #loor"


18/28

The Beast

%heir cries #rom distant shores resound

as the #athers called #rom yonder rougher ground

+Sons- 8eave your beach' cross the river' brave the waves-

8est the beast lay you in an early grave"

3las' their #ears #ell on muted ears6

instead the sons' with all their wood' built simple spears'bared them bravely' beat their breasts'

staying #ar away #rom the waves deadly crests"

+%he shores o# our #athers are not #or us'

their beaches barren' their #orests #ruitless"

See how the colors are dull and dreary"

See how the crossing made our #athers weary"

.hat danger waits that we cannot combat/;ur weapons sharp' ready to attac)"

Courage and bravery we do not lac)"

,ut' at heart' the sons shoo) with trepidation'

always an7ious at the rivers constant motion6

they saw men carried by its charging current

to the in#inite beyond' to the endless ocean"

So the sons stayed on their bounteous beaches'

willing to brave the beast they had never seen'

but scared o# the river which #lowed within their very reach

@till came the day the #oreboding #athers had #oreseen"

%heir cries #rom distant shores resound'

as the beast )noc)ed their pride#ul weapons to the ground'

and no son escaped' #or they had built neither boat nor oar'

as their #athers watched' mourn#ully' #rom the sa#er shore"


19/28

The Si+ %oun" Sailors

>nder the moon' on dec) they stood'

saying

+4or change- 4or progress-

4or the greater good-

4or two long years the schooner hopped'

li)e a bull#rog between lily pads'

#rom island to island carrying crops

Atween %urner Cay and %rinidad"

&e@er be#ore had the Captain led

to bad port or dangered ree#'

)eeping stoc)ed with rum and bread)eeping trips easy and brie#"

,ut today' the winds had suddenly turned

and becalmed the ship in open water6

;h- how the crews #ace did dar)en

though they still #eared the 4logger"

Si7 young sailors gathered @roundat night as the moon shone brightly down'

and the sail covered her #ace li)e a sil)en shroud

as i# she wished to hide her #rown"

n the dar)' on dec) they stood'

saying



+%he Captain brought us to this #ate'

his methods have long been out o# date"

3ll but his o##icers he most certainly hates'

the Captain has led us to this #ate"

+%he &avigator is his righthand man'

he is the one who writ this plan he )new the globe would stop her #an-

%he &avigator is his right hand man"

+%he


20/28

%he 4logger has gained #rom our plight"

Having chose who were at #ault'

the si7 young sailors planned revolt'

the ne7t night they would stri)eas blindly as a lightning bolt"

n the shadows' on dec) they stood

saying



.hen the moon returned and hid her eyes

behind the mast and crossing ropes'

the si7 young sailors called upon

all the crew who@d lost their hope"

+Come #riends- Come #riends-

8isten here-%he Captain has sold us all'

though #or what is unclear"

+He and the &avigator did plan the route'

He and the


21/28

+&o- &o- the Captain cried'

+.e@ve actually been this way be#ore'

sometimes the sea is cruel and harsh

and strands you #ar' #ar o##shore-

+;## the gangplan)- said the sailors'

ignoring all his desperate pleas and with cannonball attached to #oot

san) the Captain into the sea"

&e7t was the &avigator' they caught him Amidsttrying to trace the path they too)

on one o# the hundreds o# detailed maps

in one o# the hundreds o# dusty boo)s"

+How )ind o# you to trace

this path into motionlessness"

@d bet the Captain paid you well

to sacri#ice us to richness-

+&o- &o- the &avigator cried'+ don@t control the weather-

get paid e7act the same

whether stopped or #loating li)e a #eather-

+;## the gangplan)- said the sailors'

ignoring all his desperate pleas

and with cannonball attached to #oot

san) the &avigator into the sea"

%he poor


22/28

,y now the crowd was (uite unruly'

and the 4logger got the worse o# it

#or each man he@d #logged #or #lagging'

thrice did he get whipped"

+;h' %as)master- Did the Captain give

promises o# name and #amei# you beat all us blind

in order to )eep our class tame/

+&o- &o- the 4logger cried'

+ only do the *ob @m told-

@ve never even met the Captain-@ve never seen an ounce o# gold-

+;## the gangplan)-@ said the sailors'

ignoring all his desperate pleas

and with cannonball attached to #oot

san) the 4logger into the sea"

+.e@ve won- .e@ve won-%heir dastardly plans are #oiled-

4or change- 4or progress-

4or the greater good we@ve toiled-

Carrying the smell o# newer places

the winds pic)ed up (uite suddenly-%he cas)s o# rum were bro)en open'

a cry was raised o# victory-

+.ho will be our new Captain/

.ho will lead us home/

.ho will be our &avigator

to guide us through the brea)ing #oam/

,ut none o# the sailors really )new

what the Captain did really do6

none o# the maps in the &avigators room

could give them a single clue"

3ll o# the crew began to mutterabout how they wanted more butter'

so they too) to the


23/28

,ut none were as strong

as the one they drowned'

and o# the si7 young sailors

no 4logger was #ound"

So si7 younger sailors gathered round

at night as the moon shone brightly down

and the sail covered her #ace li)e a sil)en shroud

as i# she wished to hide her #rown"

n the dar)' on dec) they stood'saying



Si7 months later' by chance one day'

crashed on a ree# the ship was #ound #illed with corpses' starved or shot'

but a #ew short miles #rom the ground"

Scrawled on the dec)' carved in the wood

was a saying




24/28

Father

%he little boy sat

on a mound o# grass

with mud on his #eet

and more beneath his #ingers"

He wanted to

turn stic)s into guns'yards into countries'

and pets into beasts"

%here were games to play'

dames to save'

dragons to slay'

shirts to #ray'

but no one was around'

so he sat on his mound"

His #ather drove by'

o## o# wor)'

it had been

#ar too long o# day"

He wanted to lay down'

)iss his wi#e'

turn on the television'

and goto sleep"

5et he saw his boy'

not slaying dragons

or saving dames

or #raying shirts

so he par)ed the car'

closed the garage'

and grabbed a stic)'

turned it into a gun'

ambushed his son'

played until

his little boy was done

then went

and #inished his night"


25/28

Bri,

He tried

to breathe #ire into stone'

but ended up with burnt hands'

and *ust a bric)"

He was still obstinate'

obsessed with his design'a god to be praised'

a god with whom

you could drin) wine"

He showed it to his #riends'

they would understand'

that a god you9ve built

is better then one you cant"

So bric) turned to deity'and years passed'

until all was #orgotten'

when time had erased the past"

3 builder was loo)ing'

to patch up his home'stumbled upon a bric)

that' unbe)nownst to him'

had once sat on a throne"

t was placed under a window'

to )eep out the wind'

a role it pre#erred

#ar more then to be a god

again"


26/28

Flowers Turned Grey

%he vase o# #lowers had already

withered and browned'

#ar away #rom the ground

where they had been pic)ed"

%hin)ing o# home'

instead o# porcelain surroundingsthey displayed only in)lings

o# the beauty they had once shown"

%hey used to be the bright spot

in an otherwise crowded street'

decorations near peoples #eet

when someone snapped an impromptu picture"

now' only to serve'

as one old mans *oy in the morn@and to #eel the unending scorn

o# those who didn@t understand their history"

4or the old man had pic)ed them

when he was but a boy

as a last minute ployto impress his only beloved"

He had no ring to give'

only the words and a bou(uet

as well as the short time he had spent to pray

that she would say yes even in poverty"

.hich she did"

&ow' as they were #aded #ar past gray'

it reminded him o# shewho had long since passed away'

things so ugly' yet pearls in his eyes'

the only part o# his love that did stay"

i# even in shadowed memories"

So' while that vase was ridiculed

by strangers in his home'

the old man would smile'and although still alone'

he )new that even dead #lowers can be beauti#ul

as long as you )now where they@ve been"


27/28

The Sear,h

+.hat is your name/ he shouted to the wind'

and when the wind moved' he heard Agod@'

so spent his li#e #ollowing the bree$es'

homeless and unsatis#ied"

,ut his son' tired o# the movement' chose anew"

+.hat is your name/ he shouted to the #orest'and when the birds #lew out' he heard Agod@'

so spent his li#e amid the trees'


,ut his son' tired o# leaves and soil' chose anew"

+.hat is your name/ he shouted to a woman'

and in her breathing he heard Agod@'

so spent his li#e chasing her pleasure'homeless and unsatis#ied"

,ut his son' tired o# s)in and heavy breaths' chose anew"

+.hat is your name/ he shouted to a boo)'

and amids its pages he read Agod@'

so spent his li#e in libraries'


,ut his son' tired o# dust and worthless wisdom' chose anew"

+.here are you/ he shouted to ?od'

and ?od smiled' delighted to #inally be worth more

than the wind'

than the #orest'

than a woman'

than a boo)'

and so He

gave the boy a home'

and the boy was satis#ied"


28/28

Zachary Harper attended the >niversity o# owa' receiving degrees in Classical Chinese and 8inguistics" Having

studied ?ree)' Hebrew' and Chinese' he immersed himsel# in the #aery tales and #ol) lore that #ired the imaginations o#

the great early writers and served as the #oundation o# literature #or thousands o# years" &ow he' too' draws #rom the

well o# the muses' writing parables and #ables meant to both educate and entertain' hoping #or nothing more than to

inspire conversation on the ideas too comple7 to #it into anything other than simple stories"

4or more wor)s by Zachary' see http!!www"smashwords"com!pro#ile!view!$eharper"
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/zeharperhttp://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/zeharper

Documents

The Boy Who Drew in the Mud and Other Parables