The Magpie in Winter: A Fable told by Lysander Aesopides

The Magpie (Oil on canvas, 1868) by Claude Monet (1840-1926). Musée d’Orsay, Paris.

In a quiet land where the world often rested beneath a thick blanket of snow, a lone magpie perched on a wooden gate. The magpie, with its striking black-and-white feathers, was accustomed to the stillness and calm that the cold season brought.

One day, as the magpie foraged for food, it noticed a small bird struggling in the snow below. It was a young robin, shivering and weak, its bright red breast a stark contrast to the white landscape.

The magpie flew down to the robin and asked, “Why do you struggle here alone? This is no place for those unprepared for the cold.”

The robin, trembling, replied, “I lost my way in the snowstorm and now I am too weak to continue. I fear I won’t survive much longer.”

The magpie, though known for its cleverness and keen eye for survival, had a kind heart. Seeing the robin’s plight, the magpie said, “Come, I will help you. We must look after each other in difficult times.”

The magpie led the robin to a sheltered spot under a thick hedge, where the snow had not yet reached. It shared its small store of seeds and nuts, collected with care for such harsh times.

As the days passed, the magpie and the robin found warmth in each other’s company. The magpie taught the robin how to spot food even in the bleakest of landscapes, and in return, the robin shared songs of hope, lifting the magpie’s spirits.

In time, the robin’s strength returned, and she knew it was time to fly back to her own home. She thanked the magpie for her kindness and promised to return when the snow melted, to sing for her new friend the songs of spring.

The magpie, watching the robin take flight, felt a warmth in her heart that even the coldest winter could not freeze. She understood that while the snow had brought silence and stillness to the land, it had also brought them together, reminding her that even in the quietest moments, there is life, warmth, and connection.

Moral of the Fable

Adversity and difficulty often give rise to beauty, strength, and connection. In challenging times, the support and kindness we offer to others not only help them but also reveal our own inner resilience.

An Additional Treat – Lyrics based on the fable set to music