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Bird Parliament

Farid ud-Din Attar

9781465576590
30 pages
Library of Alexandria
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Overview
Once on a time from all the Circles seven Between the stedfast Earth and rolling Heaven THE BIRDS, of all Note, Plumage, and Degree, That float in Air, and roost upon the Tree; And they that from the Waters snatch their Meat, And they that scour the Desert with long Feet; Birds of all Natures, known or not to Man, Flock'd from all Quarters into full Divan, On no less solemn business than to find Or choose, a Sultan Khalif of their kind, For whom, if never theirs, or lost, they pined. The Snake had his, 'twas said; and so the Beast His Lion-lord: and Man had his, at least: And that the Birds, who nearest were the Skies, And went apparell'd in its Angel Dyes. Should be without—under no better Law Than that which lost all other in the Maw— Disperst without a Bond of Union—nay, Or meeting to make each the other's Prey— This was the Grievance—this the solemn Thing On which the scatter'd Commonwealth of Wing, From all the four Winds, flying like to Cloud That met and blacken'd Heav'n, and Thunder-loud With Sound of whirring Wings and Beaks that clash'd Down like a Torrent on the Desert dash'd: Till by Degrees, the Hubbub and Pell-mell Into some Order and Precedence fell, And, Proclamation made of Silence, each In special Accent, but in general Speech That all should understand, as seem'd him best, The Congregation of all Wings addrest.

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