The Oath That Changed with the Wind

When the truth blows whichever way he squawks… the forest must find its own voice.

By Forest Moss (c) 2025

1

In the branches above the wide Whisperroot Glen,

Lived Eagleton T. in a high royal den.

He perched in a nest draped with sashes and signs,

With banners that read: “ALL THE FOREST IS MINE!”

2

He cawed from the Canopy twice every day:

“I’m strong, I’m the best, and I always know the way!”

But the truth, if you squinted, was not quite as bold—

He just changed what was true when the weather got cold.

3

He’d chirp: “The sun shines!” when clouds blocked the blue.

And when caught in a lie? “That was last season’s truth!”

He’d declare: “I’m the wind!” and then ban windy days—

Then brag that he’d stopped them with clever wordplay.

4

Now most of the critters just rolled eyes or ducked,

But the creatures who stayed in the branches felt stuck.

He made all the perchers repeat every note,

And sign something called… the “Great Loyalty Oath.”

5

“You must pledge to agree that my beak is the best,

That my feathers are shinier than all the rest.

You’ll repeat what I say, and you'll cheer when I flap—

And deny any rumors of my morning nap.”

6

Some signed with a chuckle, some signed out of fear,

While Owliver frowned and said, “This isn’t clear.”

But the Eagle squawked loud, “Do you dare to resist?

You’ll be banned from the perch if you don’t sign this list!”

7

He added new rules every hour or two—

“You must say the sky’s purple, if I say it’s true!”

He demanded applause, even when he just blinked,

And cried “Treason!” if anyone paused and just… thunked.

8

Now Flick the sly Finch was as wily as worms,

He could flatter a frog with a poem on germs.

He saw Eagleton’s hunger for cheer and applause,

And began writing slogans with glitter and claws:

9

“All hail the Eagle who echoes the sun!”

“He is the forest—he is everyone!”

And each time he praised him, he rose in the ranks,

While truth-telling creatures were pushed off the planks.

10

But one windy morning, the branches grew still.

The Eagle proclaimed: “I control every hill!”

But a breeze blew his wig off, his perch gave a creak—

And the oath sheets flew down to the mud by the creek.

11

The critters all stared as his secrets blew free:

The oaths, the edits, the maps he’d… creatively…

Drawn with a crayon to fit his demands—

One even declared him “The Lord of the Lands.”

12

Then Owliver spoke, calm and gentle and plain:

“Real trust doesn’t need a performance or chain.

True leaders don’t wobble when winds start to spin—

They stand in the breeze and let honesty win.”

13

The Eagle sat quiet, his feathers less puffed.

His posters now soggy, his anthem rebuffed.

He looked at the oath pile, then looked to the crowd…

And whispered, “Perhaps I was trying too loud.”

14

Flick flew off fast, his banners now banned.

The forest, once quiet, began to expand.

And slowly the branches began to regrow—

With space for all voices, not just one solo.

🎯 Moral of the Story:

A leader who demands applause forgets how to listen.

✏️ Why I Wrote This

This fable reflects a chilling trend in real-world politics—where loyalty to a person replaces loyalty to principles. Inspired by the current-era push for personal oaths, this whimsical satire helps children understand the value of honesty, independent thought, and the danger of demanding agreement over truth.

For adults, it’s a mirror. For kids, it’s a melody of values.