Anthology: The eagle and her three chicks

In the Talmud there is a strange story about an eagle and her three babies who are living in the top of a tree on an island in a great body of water. A terrible storm raises the winds and the waters and the eagle must carry her chicks to safety across the turbulent seas. She picks up the first chick and halfway across the water she says to it, "When I am old and you are a strong eagle, will you take care of me as I am taking care of you?" and the chick replies, "I will, I will." The mother eagle drops the baby into the sea. She picks up the second chick and the story is repeated with the baby saying, "I will, I will," and the mother eagle again opening her claws and dropping the baby into the sea. She picks up the third chick and halfway across the water asks the chick if he will promise to take care of her as she has taken care of him and he says, "I cannot promise that. But I do promise you that I will take care of my own chicks as you have taken care of me." This is the bird that makes it to dry land and continues the eagle family into the future.
PIERS
Clement

Last updated 11 May 1999

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