The Whisper Tree

A chilling rhyme about fear, fact, and forest whispers—where truth takes courage, and lies root fast in shadow.

Deep in the dark where roots entwine,

A hollow tree stood out of line.

Its bark was bent, its core was cracked—

Yet every whisper echoed back.

No creature knew who made it speak.

They only heard it creak and squeak:

"The bees are hoarding all the sap.

The squirrels are plotting one big trap."

The tree would twist what Sprig had said—

And turn kind words to fear and dread.

It whispered lies with just enough truth

To scare the mice and sway the youth.

Lantern blinked, "This feels all wrong.

The forest trembles at its song.

Truth should guide the path we take—

Not fear that grows with every quake."

But Grizzle grinned: "It *might* be true!

How do you know it isn’t too?

The Whisper Tree just wants to share—

It helps us all be more aware."

Soon rumors spread through vine and brook.

No one read; they only looked.

They shouted loud but checked no facts—

As trust fell through the forest cracks.

Owliver spoke near Elder Tree:

"A whisper's not a guarantee.

If every thought becomes a fear,

Then facts dissolve and lies steer clear."

So Lantern lit the tree at night,

And Milo posted signs for light.

"Ask who speaks and what they show—

Don’t feed the fear you do not know."

The forest paused. It took a breath.

And listened close to what truth saith.

Now Whisper Tree stands hushed and bare—

Still watched by all with thinking care.

Did You Know?

Conspiracy theories often begin with fear or half-truths. But believing and spreading them without checking facts can harm communities and silence real voices.

🖋️ Why I Wrote This

In an age where rumors travel faster than reason, I wanted to give children—and the grownups who read with them—a way to see how unchecked whispers can reshape a whole forest. The Whisper Tree grew from questions about misinformation, fear-driven thinking, and how even a sliver of truth can be twisted into something harmful when echoed without care.

I shaped this story around Lantern, Milo, and Owliver because they each bring a light: honesty, curiosity, and wisdom. Together, they model how to pause, question, and shine clarity into dark, confusing places. The fable doesn’t ask young readers to ignore strange or scary claims—it teaches them to ask who’s speaking, why they’re saying it, and what’s missing from the story.

In today’s noisy world, we all need a moment of forest silence—a breath between reaction and response. This fable invites that pause.