The Blackbird and The Monkey

The Blackbird and The Monkey, short folktale stories from Cambodia

There were two blackbirds: male and female who set up their nest on a tree. Mean while it was raining, a homeless monkey who was stricken with cold came to stay under the blackbird's tree. When the blackbirds saw him terribly shivering, one counseled him " Oh, Brother Monkey, you have two hands and two legs as a man does. Why don't you build home for your dwelling? " 

The monkey said " I have two hands and two legs as a man does. Thus I am a nestles animal. The truth is I cannot do it. " The blackbird said again " You do not need knowledge to build your nest. You see the birds have only one beak and they can build the nest which they need for their protection from the cold and the rain. You had better think it over. Am I right or not? All the animals in the world have their own dwelling to protect their babies and their mates from suffering. If you cannot build a good nest, you just put branches one on another and you cover it with leaves for your own nest for a while. You do not depend on another dwelling or on a branch or on a tree. It is very difficult for your mate and your young ones. Monkey you have two hands and two legs, I think you can do it. Please do it, do not wait for your knowledge to help you. 

All the animals have only strength will work in their own way. They never work like the human beings. You see even the worm, the locust and the termite which are very small, but they have their own habitations, and you, why can't you do it? Other animals have no more knowledge than you, but they are able to build habitations of their own. You said that you cannot do it because you do not want to do it, and you are lazy animal. " 

When the monkey heard the blackbird criticize him, he became very angry, because he was ashamed before the blackbirds, and then he swung straight to the blackbird's nest and dropped it down. 

" Do not give counsel those who do not want to listen. "