Once there was a raven. While flying around the forest one day, he saw a lake. There were swans in it. He was fascinated by the graceful swans. The raven looked at himself and said, “I am black as coal and the swans are white as snow. Maybe I can become like them if I live in the lake instead of trees.” The raven began living near the lake and washed himself again and again. He tried to copy the swans but he remained black. At last, he said to the swans, “I came to live in this lake so that I might become like you. But I am still black.” A wise swan replied, “Friend, merely changing your place of stay will not change your nature. Beauty comes from within. You are beautiful as you are. The Creator has made us this way.” The raven thanked the swan and flew away.
The Raven Who Tried to Be White
