BOOK: The Conference of Birds

I am finshing the year in quietness doing one of the things that I love the most in life: reading. (Movement and dancing is the other one).

This time, my end of the year ritual involves a poem written in the 12th Century by the Persian mystic and poet Attar of Nishapur, The Conference of Birds. I bought this book second hand online from The World of Books in a special edition retold and illustrated by the storyteller Peter Sís from Czechoslovakia.

This is how the story begins:

“Birds! Look at the troubles happening in our world! Anarchy-discontent-upheaval!
Desperate fights over therritory, water, and food!

Poisoned air! Unhappines!

I fear we are lost. We must do something!

I’ve seen the world. I know many secrets. Listen to me: I know of a king who has all the answers.

We must go and find him.”

The poem shares some ideas about our human journey that might resonate to many of us during this unprecedented times that we are going through.

Happy 2021 everyone! And may the journey continue!