A little bird told me

It is said that King Solomon who lived long long ago knew the language of the birds and beasts. He would go out of his chamber alone to listen to the grievances of birds in his royal grove. The other kings and queens were wondering as to how King Soloman had acquired this skill. But they could not ask him, thinking that he would get angry.

But they all knew that they cannot keep a secret from King Solomon as the birds and other creatures would inform him. In this way the King Solomon was happy. But in certain ways the King Solomon was unhappy. Why? For the simple reason that the birds and beasts knew all about his strategies. It so happened that once the King Solomon wanted to summon all the birds in his kingdom.

“What is he going to give us?” Some birds asked.

“He is going to listen to our grievances.” Some other said.

“It may be that he is going to get the hunters to stop killing us.”

King Solomon walked in the palace grove and informed in bird language what he desired.

“On such and such a morning may I meet you all to have a hearty chat?” He announced in bird language.

So on the appointed day quite a number of birds gathered.

“Have you all come?” The king asked, seeing some missing from the scene.

“Where is Lapwing?” He asked the other birds. The king waited a while for Lapwing to come. But to his grave dismay, Lapwing was a conspicuous absentee. “I can’t understand why Lapwing had disobeyed my word!”

The rest of the birds looked each other. Some of them knew the reason.

“Ask Lapwing to explain.” Said the king.

All of a sudden, Lapwing appeared before the king. The message had passed from bird to bird.

“I had to meet Queen Sheba of Ethiopia.” Lapwing answered.

“Why did you meet her, disobeying me?”

“I did not disobey. She wants to see you soon.”

“Is that so?” King was calming down.

“Then we got to get ready for her royal visit.”

“What can we do?” The birds asked.

“You just express your blessings by singing the nicest songs.”

“We can do it.”

While the arrangements were underway, Lapwing flew to Ethiopia to inform the queen about it. King Solomon longed to see the queen. The queen was welcomed to his country with the birds’ chirping.

“How did you know about my arrival?” Asked a surprised queen.

“Oh, a little bird from Ethiopia told me that.”

Then the queen came to know King Solomon had this strange skill. Since then the king made use of birds as messengers. The tradition passed on to the end of 16th Century. That is how it entered English language: ‘A little bird told me’. The reference is made in the Holy Bible too.

Ecclesiastes 10:20:

‘Curse not the king, no not in the thoughts; and curse not the rich in thy bed chamber; for a bird of the air shall carry the voice; and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.’