The Wisest Bird Poem by Showkat Ahmad Wani

One day, upon his throne of lofty height,
The falcon, lord of birds, decreed a test:
"Whoe'er shall bring the whitest bird to me
Shall earn the crown of wisdom in my court."
Then, swift as winds that sweep the boundless sky,
The flocks took flight o'er land and surging wave,
Through meadows lush and deserts bleak and bare,
O'er mountain peaks and heaven's airy vault.
Each bird, by wit and judgment, chose its prize:
The woodcock brought a crow—both mute and deaf—
And hailed it as the whitest of them all.
The parrot scoffed, for crows are black as night,
Not white as dawn's first kiss on silver clouds.
"A witless bird art thou! " the parrot cried.
"For all men know the crow is black as coal! "
Yet woodcock, firm, ignored the jests and scorn
And bore his case before the falcon's throne.
Then parrot spoke before the gathered court,
And all the birds did nod, for truth was clear:
"The blackest stands before us, mute and still.
How strange it is to name it white, my king! "
But woodcock raised his voice and thus proclaimed:
"The crow is white, yet blinded eyes are blind!
Your senses fail; your wisdom, but a veil!
Your eyes deceive, and truth is lost to all."
Then witnesses were called from sea and sky:
The cloud was asked and deemed the crow was black.
The wind, the ocean, and the mighty earth,
The wisest man among the sons of men—
All stood and swore: "The crow is black as night."
Yet woodcock, undeterred, declared anew:
"The fault is yours, not his! Your minds are dim!
What seems as black is white, but none perceive! "
At last, the day of judgment did arrive.
The falcon called for records, writ with care.
The court grew still, as justice took her breath.
Then falcon, with a voice both stern and strong,
Declared: "Let parrot bear his rightful fate!
For witless words and foolish, shallow thought,
Imprisoned shall he be for five full years! "
The court stood dazed—astonished, mute with awe,
While woodcock, crowned in wisdom, soared with joy.
The owl did garland him with wreaths of praise
And hailed his name throughout the waiting land:
"All bow before the greatest bird of all! "
(2025)