
The Crow's Puzzle
By Fari Faruza

28 Jul, 2023

Once upon a time, in a parched and arid landscape, lived a solitary crow. The summer heat was intense and left every creature thirsting for water. Our little crow, too, was seeking relief from the scorching sun and was on a tireless quest for water.

The sun was setting, sending an orange glow across the horizon, but the crow had yet to find a single drop of water. It flew tirelessly, hoping to quench its thirst before the day ended.

Eventually, the crow's sharp eyes spotted a small glimmer in the distance. It raced towards the gleaming light, wings aflutter in anticipation. This could be the precious resource it sought so desperately.

Indeed, it was a pond that the crow found. It was a secluded sanctuary that shimmered under the waning sunlight. It was a strange oasis in the desert, yet one that filled the crow's heart with relief.

However, upon closer inspection, it noticed that the water was too deep, too far beyond reach. The crow's joy turned into despair as accessibility posed a problem. How would it manage to drink the deep water?

The crow decided to peck at the hardened mud, but it was too solid. It attempted to reach down with its beak, but it was too perilous. Frustration began to mound as dehydration gnawed at the crow.

As the crow sat there contemplating, a spark of an idea started to form. It remembered an ancient tale its grandmother used to tell: a story about ingenuity and persistence.

It was a story of another crow, who found itself in a similar predicament. Instead of giving up, the protagonist of the tale thought outside the box, coming up with a clever plan.

The crow in the tale started picking up pebbles and throwing them into a pot of water, which was too deep for it to reach. Over time, the pebbles displaced the water, bringing it to the surface, within reach of the thirsty crow.

The crow, invigorated by this idea, began its task. It started picking up stones and pebbles, heaving them into the pond. One by one, each stone dropped into the body of water, creating tiny ripples that danced upon the surface.

The process was slow, and the sun was bidding goodbye, casting long shadows across the landscape. But our diligent crow did not lose heart. It kept dropping the stones with a determination that did not waver.

As more and more stones joined their counterparts in the pond, the water level started to rise. The crow watched this with rising hope, its efforts finally showing visible signs of success.

The night drew closer, but the crow did not stop. Under the soft glow of the moon, it continued its effort. The tireless crow, working with single-minded focus, did not let the darkness deter it.

By the time the first rays of dawn appeared, the unthinkable had happened. The water level had risen substantially. The crow could almost reach the water. A few more stones, it thought, and my task will be complete.

True to its word, after a few more stones, the water was within its reach. The crow bent down and drank to its heart's content. The satisfaction of quenching its thirst was unlike any it had ever experienced.

The crow had faced a challenge, thought of a solution and worked hard to execute it. Its success brought more than just relief from thirst; it brought a sense of pride, an understanding of the power of tenacity and intelligence.

The crow's story is not just a tale of survival but also of ingenious problem-solving. Its journey from desperation to satisfaction serves as an inspiration for anyone facing a difficulty that seems insurmountable at first.

Also, we can draw a lesson about not giving in to despair during challenging times. The crow could have decided not to try when it saw the water was too deep. It could have let its thirst overcome it and given up on life.

Instead, it decided to think, devise a plan, and execute it, despite the odds. It decided not just to survive but to thrive. And in turn, it teaches us the significance of resilience and the power of a determined mind.

This little bird, with its steely determination and clever mind, shows us that no problem is too big if we are willing to think creatively and keep trying. It reminds us that, often, the solutions to our problems lie in our own hands.

The crow's story is reminiscent of human struggles as well. Each one of us, like the crow, faces situations that seem daunting at first glance. But with a bit of thinking, ingenuity, and determination, we can conquer any challenge.

Its tale reverberates in the hearts and minds of those who hear it, reminding them of their potential and the miracles they can achieve with determination and ingenuity. So, let's keep the crow's story in our hearts and rise to meet any challenge life throws our way.

All in all, the crow's tale is a timeless testament to the power of determination and innovation. It reminds us that nothing is impossible if we have the courage to face our problems and the creativity to devise solutions to overcome them.

As the sun rose again on the hot desert, the crow flew away with a heart full of satisfaction and wisdom. After all, it had not only quenched its thirst but had also learned a lesson that would serve it for the rest of its life.

Years later, the same crow would live to tell the tale to its fellow birds, passing on a legacy of bravery, intelligence, and resourcefulness. And the tale, like the crow, would continue to inspire those who heard it, reminding them of the strength within themselves.