Are you ready to escape into story time? Listen to a classic The Merchant fairy tale (not a Disney version). Check out our other classic fairy tale video stories on EscapeIntoStoryTime!
THE MERCHANT
Rabindranath Tagore
Imagine, mother, that you are to stay at
home and I am to travel into strange lands.
Imagine that my boat is ready at the
landing, fully laden.
Now think well, mother, before you say
what I shall bring for you when I come back.
Mother, do you want heaps and heaps of gold?
There, by the banks of golden streams, fields are
full of golden harvest.
And in the shade of the forest path the golden
champa flowers drop on the ground.
I will gather them all for you in many hundred
baskets.
Mother, do you want pearls big as the raindrops
of autumn?
I shall cross to the pearl island shore.
There in the early morning light, pearls tremble on the
meadow flowers, pearls drop on the grass, and pearls are
scattered on the sand in spray by the wild sea-waves.
My brother shall have a pair of horses with
wings to fly among the clouds.
For father I shall bring a magic pen that,
without his knowing, will write of itself.
For you, mother, I must have the casket
and jewel that cost seven kings their kingdoms.
