The Water Lily has been singing her sad song endlessly.

Alas! bewitched and all forsaken,
‘Tis I must lie for ever here!
My beloved no thought has taken
To free his bride, that was so dear.

The Thrush sang: “How stupid men are! For a whole year we’ve been listening to the sad song of the water lily, while her lover goes back and forth over the bridge.”

“What’s the matter with humans, anyway?” I shrieked. “Are they deaf?”

“No,” sang the Thrush, “but they only hear the voices of other humans.”

In that case, she’ll remain a flower forever! And we birds will have to bear the weight of many sorrows in our flight.

Magpie in The Water Lily, Blue Fairy Book. Picture by John James.