Significance of Insignificance

Significance of insignificance
P K Routray
Set ablaze was a forest,
Fire was at its intense best.
Away flew each bird in the forest leaving its nest,
fled also lions, deer and animals the rest
for their lives to find safety and protection
leaving behind the clan, chicks and cubs on their own.
But seen was flying a sparrow, a minute bird
between a river and the forest, never getting wavered,
carrying a beak full of water from the river
and emptying over the fire, probably to wither.
An elephant was watching it.
Sensing the impossinility and the bird’s plight,
exhibiting its wisdom, it asked the sparrow
“Can such little water end our sorrow?
How foolish is your action,
attempting an impossible solution!
Fly and try for your own protection
like all animals now on the run.”
The bird replied enticing each one’s attention,
“Drops of water added make an ocean,
Trees and creepers gave us food and protection
I cannot fly away leaving them helplessly burn.”
The words gave the fleeing birds and animals the sense of wisdom
All put up their mighty efforts to extinguish the fire and saved their kingdom.