One day, a young hawk — an eyas — joined his mother on a hunting trip. ❤️ Each time the hawk swooped down and carried off a chick, the mother hen would leap into the air, flapping wildly. She would scream, curse the hawk, and cry out to the neighbours — even to the humans — hoping someone would come to her aid. ❤️
Despite all the noise and commotion, the hawk would always succeed. ❤️
When the danger passed, the mother hen would gather her remaining chicks, crying as she led them into hiding until nightfall.
As the eyas grew older and strong enough to hunt, his mother sent him out to find food for his siblings. ❤️ Flying nearly two miles above the ground, he spotted a mother hen with her newly hatched chicks. He dived swiftly, grabbed one, and soared back into the sky. ❤️
Just as he had seen many times before, the hen screamed, cursed, and chased after him briefly before returning to her remaining chicks.
When the eyas returned home, his mother asked him,
“What did the mother hen do?”
He replied,
“She cursed me, threatened me, and chased me for a while before going back to the others.”
The mother hawk nodded and told them to enjoy their meal. ❤️ She praised him for his first successful hunt.
A few days later, the young hawk set out again, now proud of his growing skill. ❤️ This time he searched everywhere but found no hen and no lizard. Then he noticed a duck walking peacefully with her duckling, moving calmly and chatting in their own quiet way.
Seeing an easy opportunity, the eyas dived and seized the duckling. ❤️
But something unusual happened.
The mother duck did not scream. She did not shout for help. She did not chase him. She simply remained calm, composed, and silent. ❤️
When the eyas returned home, his mother asked,
“Whose child have you brought?”
“A duckling,” he replied.
“And what did the mother do when you took it?” she asked.
“Nothing,” the eyas said. “She just turned and looked at me, then continued what she was doing.”
Immediately, the mother hawk said,
“Return that duckling at once.” ❤️
Perplexed, the eyas asked why.
It was then that the mother hawk revealed a wisdom as old as time — a lesson that applies not only to animals but to humans as well. ❤️
She said:
“Never take something from someone who keeps their intentions hidden within their mind. The chicken shouts, curses, and threatens — and by doing so, we know exactly what to expect and what to watch for. But the silence of the duck is far more dangerous, because we cannot read her intentions.” ❤️
The eyas returned the duckling. Even then, the mother duck’s composure did not change.
Now pause and reflect. ❤️
Are you predictable?
Do you announce every move before you make it?
Do you shout and scream only to attract sympathy?
Noise alone does not command respect. True strength demands composure, strategy, and self-control. ❤️
History shows us that crying out to oppressors rarely stops oppression. Real change begins the day people decide to guard their intentions, plan wisely, and act decisively against those determined to hold them down.
One must have the capacity to cause disruption if necessary — even while choosing to maintain peace. ❤️
My humble submission is this: we must move away from the mentality of the chicken and embrace the mindset of the duck, the eagle, and the lion — calm, precise, courageous, and strategic. ❤️
For no one will free us from the long sleep of mental slavery except ourselves. No matter how loudly we shout, nothing will change until we decide to take meaningful action. ❤️
I remain your friend and brother,
Maazi Onuora Obodoechi ❤️
Pen it down. 