Recourse

A bird of extraordinary beauty appears before thousands of its kind… and asks whether they would like to fly with it toward the highest peak in the world. Every bird in the flock gladly says “yes.” They are all eager to gaze upon the world’s infinity from a vista stretching as far as the eye can see. Yet some grow tired and leave the flock; others grow hungry. Some of those who press on dream of their families. In others’ dreams are nests where they can rest and sleep in comfort. With only a short distance left to the summit, around ten birds continue on their way. The others, convinced that the beautiful bird who appeared before them has deceived them, abandon the journey too. Only one bird remains. It alone reaches the summit and can look out from there upon the world’s infinity. After experiencing this beauty, it becomes aware of a responsibility within itself. Part of the meaning of reaching this place is to return with the knowledge you have gained and help others reach it too—the center of existence. It is now a guide bird. Its task is not to wander, but to bring others along. This story belongs to Farid al-Din Attar, a contemporary of Rumi from Khorasan… “They say you never know where a poet’s voice will echo, or in whom.” Somehow, that call reaches Mauro Martino too. After all, he is a bird as well, like the Simurgh… And one day, he is given a copy of the Holy Quran. Inside, it says, “We have fastened each person’s bird around their own neck.” And so he begins to search for that bird within himself. Along the way, he learns that flying takes more than wings. Some are caterpillars by nature. They cannot fly until they transform into butterflies… A striking novel, *The Return Home*, by Mauro Mevlud Martino…