The Hens in the Fowl Run
Once upon a time there were many fowls living in a fowl run. Everyday they would all come out into fields and look for food.
One day a snake bit one of the hens on her leg, and the poison of the snake was burning in her body. She quickly sought refuge in the henhouse. When the other hens saw her burning with fever and the poison swelling in her leg they preferred to expel her from the fowl run so that the poison would not spread to them. The hen limped away, crying out in pain. Not because of the snake bite, but because of the abandonment and contempt of her own family at the time when she needed them most. So she left… burning with fever, dragging one of her legs, vulnerable to the cold nights. With each step, a tear fell from her eye. The hens in the henhouse watched her go away, watching her disappear on the horizon. Some said to each other: Let her go… She will die far away from us. When the hen finally vanished into the immensity of the horizon, they were all sure that she had died. Some even looked at the sky, hoping to see vultures flying.
Time passed. Much later, a hummingbird came to the henhouse and announced: Your sister is alive! She lives in a cave far away from here. She recovered, but lost a leg from the snake bite. She has trouble finding food and needs your help. There was silence. Then the excuses began:
- I can’t go, I’m laying eggs…
- I can’t go, I’m looking for corn…
- I can’t go, I have to take care of my chicks…
So, one by one, they all refused the request. The hummingbird returned to the cave without help.
Time passed again. Much later, the hummingbird returned, but this time with painful news: Your sister has passed away… She died all alone in the cave… There is no one to bury her or mourn her. At that moment, a weight fell on everyone. A deep lament filled the henhouse. Those who were laying eggs stopped. Those who were looking for corn left the seeds. Those who were caring for the chicks forgot about them for a moment. Regret hurt more than any poison. Why didn’t we go before? they asked themselves. And without measuring the distance or the effort, they all set off for the cave, crying and lamenting. Now they had a reason to see her, but it was too late.
When they got to the cave, they didn’t find the hen… They only found a letter that said: “In life, many times people can’t cross the street to visit or help you when you’re alive, but they can cross the world to bury you when you die.” Most of the tears at funerals are not from pain, but from remorse and regret. Don’t wait for a funeral to attend, take out the time now to visit family and friends. Tomorrow maybe too late and you will be left with only regrets.
