The African Wings

There was a large bird's nest high up in a big Baobab tree. It had single large egg in it waiting patiently to be hatched. All the animals of the veld came out to see what would come forth from such a large and splendid egg on the day that it broke open. 'My look at its big and scruffy paws for such a little bird.' said the antelope. 'My look at its big round eyes, too big for such a small birds little head.' Laughed the lion. 'What a big beak the little fellow has!' proclaimed the great elephant in wonder and laughed at the little one in turn. 'The ugliest of all little-big birds.' They all gossiped among themselves. And as he grew, he soon took to flight and flew among the other birds of the valley, the sparrow, the dove and the hawk. And when he flew by them awkwardly, they would all laugh at him and say, 'There goes that funny little bird with the big beak and scruffy big feet.' And they could not get enough of laughing at their own little joke among themselves. But one day soon the bird had grown big. Bigger than any of them. And now it had a pair of large proud wings, big enough to fit with its huge legs and talons. Big enough for his keen big eyes and his mighty huge sharp beak too. He was a mighty and proud bird at last, and he was able to fly higher in the sky than all of them. So high into the clouds he could fly now that he decided to make his nest high up in the cliffs of the highest mountain peak, just to get away from all of them. So high up he went that none of them could follow him on high. 'Who is that mighty bird that was such a scrawny and awkward little chap? asked all the animals. 'What great bird flies up yonder among the clouds?' asked all the little birds of the valley. 'It is the Mighty Eagle you all see,' replied the wise man of the local village proudly, 'He is the mightiest of you all, and I'm afraid you have all hurt his pride when you always laughed and joke about him.' he said. And so, the Mighty Eagle came to soar high above all the other animals and the birds for all time to come. He was indeed a cut above the average. True greatness always comes from within and rises to the top in the end. Fly forever free great lord of the sky. The heavens were only meant for those who aspire to them in true greatness and beauty of the heart and soul after all.