Bahtiyar Hidayet, Poem
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Bahtiyar Hidayet Azerbaijan
THE BALLAD OF SALTED SHOES
In ancient times
There was a tyrant-an old king.
His cruelty was so great
That even cruelty itself was horrified.
One day, sensing his death was near,
He called his heir:
“Are you ready, my son? The throne is yours.”
The son was ready-
But the king decided to test him.
Two rams were brought.
For a month, each of them fed one.
A month later-
The heir’s ram, fat and strong,
Left the bodyguards crippled.
But the king’s ram-
So thin that its ribs showed through its skin.
And the most terrible part:
The king sprinkled salt
On his shoes.
The ram began to lick them.
The heir learned a great lesson.
One day, as the tyrant was dying,
The devil asked him:
“What will happen to the country?”
The king replied:
“You will have to work with my heir.”
The devil trembled and said:
“Enough… even evil has its limits.”
…And the heir
Became a very “good” king.
Seeing his cruelty,
The people prayed for his father.
They licked
His salted shoes.
And he pressed
On the people’s wounds-
Even though
There was no salt
In their food.
