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The Magpie and the Peacock

An Allegory

By Dennis HumphreysPublished 2 years ago 3 min read
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by: Dennis R. Humphreys (an allegory)

The magpie and the peacock, on occasion, ran into each other. They weren't friends, but often they would get into discussions that lasted all day long, giving you the impression they were. They had one discussion that constantly turned into an argument leaving each of them angered at the other.

“I can mimic almost anything I hear and am even able to talk to humans when I want,” the magpie boasted.

“Look at this plumage. My colors are beautiful,” cried the peacock as it strutted in front of the magpie and a few others birds that were standing there, listening to the argument.

But it seemed neither ever won any argument because both were equally stubborn and refused to relent. Each held on to their beliefs... one thought it better to look good, while the other argued that it was better to have more substance by having a talent.

One day they ran into each other and began the same old argument as each landed in the same tree overlooking the forest floor. A coyote, hearing them argue, sat at the foot of the tree and listened to them as they went on and one, and on.

Noticing they had an audience, the peacock spoke up to the coyote.

“What do you think? Is it better to look good or have a talent?” the pheasant asked, The magpie merely cocked his head and watched the coyote, carefully.

“Well logically speaking, your looks can go away as you get older but if you have a talent it should only get better the older you get the more you use it,” the coyote surmised. The explanation angered the peacock a bit, especially when the magpie added his two cents.

“Ha! You see,” he told the peacock.

“Now hold on you two, that isn't my final answer,” he told them.

“Then what is?” asked the magpie suspiciously.

“I think I need a demonstration. Peacock, why don't you fly down here and model in front of me so I can get a good look at your beauty. Strut like you do so I can make a decision.

The peacock flew down from the tree and landed in front of the coyote. There, he ruffled his feathers and marched back and forth in front of him with his head proudly thrown back. He lifted his legs as if he were marching and truly looked good. But quickly, it was over as the coyote pounced on him and devoured the stupid bird. He belched and thought how he would like more.

“Sorry about that,” said the coyote, “he did such a fine job and looked so delicious as he strutted I just had to devour him. Why don't you come down here now and do whatever you do to show me how well you can talk and mimic things. I'll judge.”

“And what makes you think I would trust you any more, not to do the same thing if I came down there to exhibit my mimicking capabilities?” the enlightened bird asked.

“Your friend was full of himself, but now I am full of your friend. I am not hungry anymore so rest assured I won't eat you,” the coyote told him as he sat looking up at the bird.

The bird looked down on the sly coyote but wasn't about to be fooled, so he just sat there firm as the coyote waited, twitching his tail.

The wise magpie, inspired by and idea, acted like he saw something in the distance, distracting the coyote to look as well. Using his mimicking talents, the bird was also able to throw his voice so it didn't sound like it came from him but rather from where he was looking.

“Over here, Fred. I see a coyote. He'll fetch a good bounty price if we can get him!” the bird said.

With that the coyote took off and disappeared among the bushes, while the magpie flew to the ground and gathered some of the peacock's feathers to line his nest.

satire
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