The Wizard
The Night Owl and the Light Within
by Fokion Triantafyllidis
at Radio Highway Pirates
Once upon a time, on a quiet night when the moon hung in the sky like a silver coin, the old and wise wizard opened the windows of his tower.
He did this every night, for it was his custom:
the four winds – from North, South, East, and West – would enter and gather about him, and together they would hold their gentle counsel.
They whispered of distant lands, of joy and sorrow, of humankind and the secrets of the heart.
After a while, as their voices softened, the little night owl appeared at the window, silent as a shadow.
When the wizard beheld her, he rose at once with great delight.
“Come in, little one!”
he called.
“I shall present you to the four winds, for they carry all the stories of the world!”
But the small owl drew back shyly, as is the nature of such quiet creatures.
She fluttered closer, tugged softly at his sleeve, and urged him to follow her into a more private chamber.
There, far from the murmuring winds, she looked at him with wide and searching eyes and spoke:
“Tell me, old wise man – when must I resist, and why should I?”
The wizard frowned gently and stroked his long beard in thought.
“When must you resist?”
he murmured.
“Ah… that is no simple matter. Yet listen well.”
He sat down, and his voice grew calm as a deep forest lake.
“Resist all that promises you an easy life – for such promises are often false.
Resist the urge to take away the freedom of another.
Resist dark moods that would settle upon your heart like shadows.
But mark this also:
Say yes to all that is pure and good.
Say yes when someone is in need of your help.
Say yes to joyful thoughts – for they are what lift you.
And believe me: one whose heart is filled with light may yet learn to fly…even without wings.”
Then all grew still, as though even the walls themselves were listening.
The little night owl bowed her head in gratitude, and her eyes shone brighter than before.
Without another word, she spread her wings and slipped into the deep night – soon no more than a fleeting shadow among the stars.
And it is said that, from that night on, her flight was lighter than ever before – as though she carried within her a quiet and unseen light.
by Fokion Triantafyllidis