|
Jade’s
emerald green wings sparkled and twinkled when the sun shone on them.
During the day, when it was very hot, Jade, the cicada, rubbed his wings
together to produce a musical humming sound. The other cicadas in the
trees hummed too, but none sounded as beautiful as Jade.
One hot
day, as Jade sat in the top of a willow tree humming, a bird walked
along the path below, pecking at the seeds and grass. Its feathers were
greenish-blue and the bird wore a crown of golden feathers on its head.
Its long feathery tail had round markings that looked just like eyes in
the center of each plume. Jade had never seen anything like this bird
before. He flew down and landed on a branch. "What kind of bird are
you?"
"I’m a
peacock. My name is Hu-Long." He spread out his tail in a colorful
display.
"I’m a
cicada. My name is Jade. You are a beautiful bird."
"You
are a beautiful insect." Hu-Long bowed his head.
"Can
you sing?" Jade puffed up his body with pride.
 Just
then Hu-Long let out a caw. It was loud and high pitched and echoed off
the tall mountains.
"You
sing as beautifully as you look. I can hum." Jade rubbed his wings
together quickly and made a humming sound that filled the valley. The
melody made the leaves on the willow trees vibrate.
"You
also sound as beautiful as you look. Maybe we can sing together and fill
the whole land with music," Hu-Long suggested. As the two stood
discussing plans, a bee landed on a rock at the bottom of the willow
tree and started buzzing.
"Your
buzzing sounds beautiful. Jade, the cicada can hum. My name is Hu-Long
and I know how to caw. Listen.” The two harmonized.
Chun-Ho, the bee buzzed and shook. "Let me join you." The three filled
the land with a joyful melody.
Other
animals came to see who was making the beautiful music. A cow eating in
a nearby field, waddled over. Jun-Lee asked if she could join in. She
let out some loud moos. Jade, Hu-Long, Chun-Ho and Jun-Lee sang
beautiful music.
Soon a
monkey swung down from the top of the willow tree. "My name is Manchu.
Your music brings joy to my heart. May I join in your chorus?" He
jumped around and pounded his chest. It had a strong beat. Soon Jade, Hu-Long,
Chun-Ho, Jun-Lee, and Manchu filled the valley with their beautiful
voices.
Shin-Yong, a tiger, came by and roared. Fo-An, a water buffalo, plodded
out of the river and joined in with its belches. Ushi, a nightingale,
chirped. Soon the whole valley was filled with a chorus of beauty.
High up
on the mountain, in a forest of bamboo, sat Quon-Shen, a panda. He heard
the music from the valley. He ate his bamboo leaves and wondered where
it was coming from. Curious, he climbed off his tree, carried a cane of
bamboo and sauntered into the valley. He came upon Jade, Hu-Long,
Chun-Ho, Jun-Lee, Manchu, Shin-Yong, Fo-An, and Ushi singing. "May I
join in?"
The
animals stopped. "Panda bears can’t make noise," Jade said. The others
nodded in agreement.
Quon-Shen took a piece of bamboo from behind his back. He poked a few
holes in it and blew through the biggest. Flute-like music flowed from
the cane. The other animals were surprised to hear such a beautiful
sound. Quon-Shen’s music was more beautiful than Jade, the cicada’s, Hu-Long,
the peacock’s, Chun-Ho, the bee’s, Jun-Lee, the cow’s, Manchu, the
monkey’s, Shin-Yong, the tiger’s, Fo-An, the water buffalo’s, and Ushi,
the nightingale’s. Quon-Shen played more music for them.
As the
sun set behind he mountains, Quon-Shen still played his bamboo flute.
Never had the valley heard such beautiful melodies as they heard that
day. |
