The wren

No. 13 on the route

In yet another argument between crow and partridge,

says the owl, "It is high time we

appoint a king who is smart and very wise

puts an end to bickering.

King of birds, everyone wants that crown

so the twittering is not off the charts.

But the owl then suggests, "The battle for the throne

wins the bird with the highest flight.

The battle will then be fought in the Oeffelter Meent,

all that has feathers are doing their best.

From a great height, the eagle looks down

and sees that he is flying higher than the rest.

"I am king!" cries the eagle with a tear in his eyes

'No I,' squeaked a little bird seen by no one,

under the eagle's plumage had flown along

And on his back now thinks to see his kingdom.

But the bird people cannot like the fake game,

and locks the bird in a den without light.

With the owl as guard in an oak tree as watchtower

With sometimes one eye open and sometimes one eye closed.

But when two eyes close, vigilance is done:

Gone is the little bird, gone from its cell.

Only in winter does he still come out from under hedges

and mockingly exclaims, "Wren, that's me!

© 2021 Geurt Franzen, after a fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm