Aesop
|
Greece

The Peacock and Juno

A beautiful peacock with colorful feathers wanted a beautiful voice as well, but Juno explained that everyone has their own unique gifts.
Contentment
Acceptance
Gratitude
Aesop's Fables - The Peacock and Juno
Audio available for B1 version

Once upon a time, in a lovely green meadow, there was a Peacock. He was a magnificent bird with bright and colorful feathers. He was a sight to behold. Everyone admired his beauty. Yet, the Peacock was not happy.

He looked at his reflection in the clear stream, and while he liked what he saw, he couldn't say the same when he heard his own voice. The Peacock could not sing as beautifully as the other birds. His voice was harsh and grating, unlike the sweet songs of the nightingale or the melodious whistle of the lark.

He felt sad about this. He believed he should have the best voice as well, as he was the most beautiful of all birds. With a heavy heart, he decided to go to Juno, the queen of the gods, and ask for her help.

He flew to the heavens and stood before Juno. He pleaded, "Dear queen, I am the most beautiful bird, but I do not have a beautiful voice. Can you give me a lovely song to match my lovely feathers?"

Juno, hearing the Peacock's request, shook her head. "Every creature has its own gifts," she said. "You have been blessed with stunning feathers that no other bird has. You cannot have everything."

And so, the Peacock had to accept that while he had the most beautiful feathers, he would not have the most beautiful voice. He returned to his meadow, realizing that he couldn't have the best of everything.

Once upon a time, in a beautiful green meadow, there was a Peacock. He was a very beautiful bird with bright and colorful feathers. Everyone admired his beauty, but the Peacock was not happy.

One day, he looked at his reflection in the clear stream. He liked how he looked, but he did not like his voice. The Peacock's voice was rough and not as sweet as the songs of other birds like the nightingale or the lark.

This made him very sad. He thought that because he was the most beautiful bird, he should also have the best voice. With a heavy heart, he decided to ask Juno, the queen of the gods, for help.

He flew to the heavens and stood before Juno. "Dear queen," he said, "I am the most beautiful bird, but my voice is not beautiful. Can you give me a lovely voice to match my lovely feathers?"

Juno shook her head and said, "Every creature has its own gifts. You have been blessed with stunning feathers that no other bird has. You cannot have everything."

The Peacock had to accept that while he had the most beautiful feathers, he would not have the most beautiful voice. He returned to his meadow, realizing that he couldn't have the best of everything.

Once upon a time, in a beautiful green meadow, there was a Peacock. He was a very beautiful bird with bright and colorful feathers. Everyone admired his beauty, but the Peacock was not happy.

One day, he looked at his reflection in the clear stream. He liked how he looked, but he did not like his voice. The Peacock's voice was rough and not as sweet as the songs of other birds like the nightingale or the lark.

This made him very sad. He thought that because he was the most beautiful bird, he should also have the best voice. With a heavy heart, he decided to ask Juno, the queen of the gods, for help.

He flew to the heavens and stood before Juno. "Dear queen," he said, "I am the most beautiful bird, but my voice is not beautiful. Can you give me a lovely voice to match my lovely feathers?"

Juno shook her head and said, "Every creature has its own gifts. You have been blessed with stunning feathers that no other bird has. You cannot have everything."

The Peacock had to accept that while he had the most beautiful feathers, he would not have the most beautiful voice. He returned to his meadow, realizing that he couldn't have the best of everything.

Once upon a time, in a meadow as green as a freshly painted bedroom wall, there was a Peacock. Oh, this bird was dazzling, like the coolest superhero toy you've ever seen. His feathers sparkled and shined, and everyone who saw him said, "Wow!"

"Hey, good-lookin'," he'd say to himself in the stream's mirror. "You're the coolest bird, huh?"

But hang on, there's a hiccup in this story. When Mr. Peacock tried to sing, his voice sounded like when you blow air into an empty juice box. Yup, not exactly a hit single.

"Aw, man!" he squawked. "I sound like I'm using a toy trumpet at a big-time concert! I gotta fix this!"

So, with his feathers all fluffed up, he zoomed up into the sky like a rocket. His target? The big boss, Juno, the queen of the gods. He landed like he was the star of the show.

"Hey Juno, check this out," he said, "I'm super good-looking, right? So why can't I sound like the coolest singer instead of like a squeaky toy?"

Juno looked at him and laughed. "So, you want to look awesome and sound awesome? You can't be good at everything, you know!"

"But think about it," Peacock said. "I could be singing like the top pop stars while showing off these awesome feathers. It would be the coolest thing ever!"

Juno shook her head. "Listen, buddy, you've got feathers that are more colorful than a big box of crayons. Don't get greedy now. You can't have it all."

Peacock thought for a moment. "Hmm, you're right, aren't you?"

So, he flew back to his awesome meadow, not as showy as before but still just as dazzling. And you know what? He realized he was pretty great just the way he was—squeaky voice and all.

Bright as a rainbow, Peacock stood tall,
Feathers like gemstones, admired by all.
But deep in his heart, he carried a plea,
"My voice isn't lovely, as lovely as me!"

He gazed in the stream, his colors aglow,
But when he tried singing, the sound was just so-so.
Not sweet like the nightingale, singing at dark,
Or clear as the melody whistled by lark.

With feathers aflutter, to Juno he flew,
"To match my bright feathers, a nice voice too?"
Juno looked down, and her wisdom did share,
"Each creature is special, none can compare."

"You shine in the sunlight, your feathers your fame,
You can't have it all; that's part of life's game."
So back to his meadow, Peacock did roam,
Learning some limits make a meadow a home.

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Word Finder

  1. Meadow

    A field of grass and flowers.

  2. Admired

    Liked and respected very much.

  3. Reflection

    Image seen in a mirror or water.

  4. Rough

    Not smooth or gentle, harsh.

  5. Nightingale

    A bird known for its beautiful song.

  6. Lark

    A small bird known for its singing.

  7. Feathers

    The soft, light covering of birds.

  8. Creature

    Any living thing, especially animals.

  9. Stunning

    Extremely beautiful or impressive.

  10. Realizing

    Understanding something clearly.

Understanding Questions

  1. Where did the Peacock live?
  2. Why was the Peacock unhappy despite his beautiful feathers?
  3. What did the Peacock decide to do to solve his problem with his voice?
  4. What was Juno's response to the Peacock's request?
  5. How did the Peacock feel after speaking with Juno, and what did he realize?
Word Finder
  1. Meadow

    A field of grass and flowers.

  2. Admired

    Liked and respected very much.

  3. Reflection

    Image seen in a mirror or water.

  4. Rough

    Not smooth or gentle, harsh.

  5. Nightingale

    A bird known for its beautiful song.

  6. Lark

    A small bird known for its singing.

  7. Feathers

    The soft, light covering of birds.

  8. Creature

    Any living thing, especially animals.

  9. Stunning

    Extremely beautiful or impressive.

  10. Realizing

    Understanding something clearly.

Understanding Questions
  1. Where did the Peacock live?
  2. Why was the Peacock unhappy despite his beautiful feathers?
  3. What did the Peacock decide to do to solve his problem with his voice?
  4. What was Juno's response to the Peacock's request?
  5. How did the Peacock feel after speaking with Juno, and what did he realize?
Reflection Questions
  1. Why do you think the Peacock wasn't happy despite being the most beautiful bird?
  2. What did the Peacock ask Juno, and why did he think he should have a beautiful voice?
  3. How did Juno explain to the Peacock that he cannot have everything?
  4. Can you think of a time when you wanted something that someone else had, but then realized you have your own unique qualities?
  5. What does this story teach us about appreciating our own unique gifts and understanding that we can't have everything?
Fable Quotes
Find joy in what you have, for you cannot have everything.
Perfection isn't adding more, it's acknowledging we're enough as we are.
With a grateful heart, you'll see your own beauty.
Just One More Fable
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