The Fool is Free
🐺 Modern Fables #5
Hey friend,
We’re just a week away from the release of my book of fables, Wandering Spirits!
Quick reminder that I’m hosting an online launch party on release day, January 23rd at 4PM PST. I’ll share insights on my process writing the book, perform a live reading of one of the book’s fables, then open it up for questions and discussion. Join the party here: lu.ma/wandering-spirits.
Today I have a fresh tale for you to feast on. Gather round, dear friends, a new fable begins…
The Fool is Free
Men stand around, stiff as statues.
They each hold a job title, assigned to them when they were young boys. It brings them many a penny, and puffs them with prestige.
They have never, not even for a moment, considered trying to change it. They have their place, and they stay within it.
Enter the fool, tripping as he comes, stumbling into the center of the court. Ignoring the points and laughs, he begins his performance.
The fool starts by juggling, struggling and fumbling.
Then he does a dance, but fails to entrance.
His next trick—a song—falls flat too, and the chorus of laughter erupts anew.
Finally, the fool finds his footing.
It turns out he is a master of bees; a pied piper who puppeteers swarms till their honey flows enough to fill the seas.
The people are silent, staring, wishing, wondering, dreaming, doing all but trying.
They are never willing, not even for a moment, to look the fool. They all look away to hide their inward sighs, saved of shame but damned with regret.
On their deathbeds, as they shut their eyes, they finally see:
Only the fool is free.
If you liked this post, you’ll love my new book of fables, Wandering Spirits!
