Hi, Rebecca Shear here. Before we get to our story, exciting news.
Circle Round is going back on tour. with live recordings across the united states our first stop Sunday, October 5th in Parker, Colorado at the Pace Center.
And Circle Round Club members are invited to a special post-show meet and greet with me and composer Eric Shimalonis.
Get your tickets at wbur.org slash circle around and click on events.
We're announcing more tour stops soon, so stay tuned.
We look forward to circling around with you live.
Produced by the iLab at WBUR Boston. Ever heard the expression, fools rush in?
When we say fools rush in, we're talking about people who make decisions a little too quickly without a whole lot of thought. and wind up paying the price.
In today's tale, we'll meet someone who doesn't just rush in, He flies there.
I'm Rebecca Sheer, and welcome to Circle Round, where storytime happens all the time.
Today our story is called Fools Thrush In.
This tale has been told among the Mohawk and Oneida people.
Native Americans who originally lived in the northeastern United States.
Some really great people came together to bring you our adaptation of this folktale, including Anthony Alibi. whom you might recognize from Netflix's original family comedy, Family Reunion.
So circle around, everyone. For fools rush in.
In another time long, long ago. The birds of the sky were different than they are today.
Why? because they had no songs. The feathered creatures could open their bills and beaks to chatter and laugh, cry and shout, but none of them. could sing.
The only earthly beings who possessed the power of song were humans. and every morning the people would join their voices in harmony and serenade the rising sun.
Way, hey, ho, ho, ho. Way, hey, ho, ho, ho.
When the birds heard the people's song, their hearts swelled with joy. and ached with sadness.
Oh, what magnificent sounds people can make.
If only we birds could make them too! But alas!
That's not how the good spirit created us.
So we're forever destined to just listen.
Wee-hey-ya-ho, wee-ho It wasn't long before the good spirit herself, the creator of all things, became aware of the bird's sorrow. not wanting any of her children to be unhappy.
One day she came down to Earth and called a meeting of all the winged and feathered creatures of the sky.
My children, it has come to my attention that you are troubled and melancholy. that each and every one of you flies around this world with a heavy heart.
Is this true? The birds frowned and nodded their feathered heads.
I see. It has also come to my attention that the reason for your woe is a shared wish, a shared desire.
It seems... that each and every one of you yearns to sing.
Is this true? This time, the birds didn't just nod their heads.
They raised their voices. It's very, very...
Very true. All of us wish we could sing.
Just like the people do. I see. The good spirit looked from one bird to another.
Well, my children. I have come here today to take your heavy hearts and make them light.
I have come here to offer you the gift Of song.
The bird's eyes grew bright. From the tops of their heads to the tips of their tails, they began to quiver with excitement.
Listen up, my children. Tomorrow morning, when the sun first shows its golden form, face in the eastern sky.
I want all of you to spread your wings and fly. as far and as high as you possibly can.
When you can fly no further. When you're certain your wings are about to give out on you.
That is when you will find your soul. And one more thing.
The good spirit pointed up toward the sky.
The bird who flies the highest. will find the most beautiful song of all.
The most captivating. The one that will make everyone stop and listen.
And with that, the good spirit vanished.
Immediately, the birds began to jump around with joy.
Can you believe it? The good spirit is giving us songs. songs at long last we'll be able to sing All we have to do is fly.
And the one who flies highest gets the most beautiful song of all.
But there was one bird who didn't share in the enthusiasm.
The little fellow had a brown back, a red tail, and dark spots on his throat and chest.
His name was Hermit Thrush. Oh, man. I wish I could get the most beautiful song of all.
But I'm so tiny! With these miniature wings of mine, there's no way I can fly higher than the other birds.
If only I were as big and powerful as Owl or Hawk.
Or Eagle. Eagle's probably the strongest of us all.
If I had his enormous wings, I could soar right through the clouds and... straight up into the spirit world.
As Hermit Thrush fixed his bright round eyes on Eagle, An idea came rushing into his pint sized head.
Wait a minute. Maybe I can have Eagle's enormous wings.
And he'll be none the wiser. What is Hermitrush going to do?
And will Eagle really be none the wiser?
Or will he catch on to whatever crafty scheme the little bird is cooking up?
We'll find out what happens after a quick break.
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I'm Rebecca Shearer. Welcome back to Circle Round.
Today our story is called Fools Thrush In.
Thank you. Before the break, the good spirit, the creator of all things, promised the birds they would get their own songs.
All they had to do was wait until sunrise, then take off into the sky.
The bird who flew the highest would get the most beautiful song of all.
Teeny tiny hermit thrush knew he was too small to fly the highest, but he wasn't about to let that stop him.
That night, once the moon was out and the birds were asleep, Hermit Thrush snuck over to a towering cottonwood tree, where Eagle kept his nest.
And just as Hermit Thrush had hoped... The mighty bird was snoozing away.
Careful not to make a sound, Hermit Thrush climbed onto Eagle's back, crept onto his head, and nestled himself inside the silky white feathers.
The little bird was still there in the morning when Eagle woke up.
And to Hermit Thrush's delight and relief, the great bird took no notice.
Ugh. Mm. Boy, oh boy, what a fabulous day to get a song.
And with these colossal wings of mine, I'm bound to get the most beautiful song of all.
Let's do this. Eagle joined his fellow birds as they made their way to the tops of the trees.
Good morning, everyone. Good morning. Good morning.
Before long. The beeches, maples, aspens, and oaks were teeming with birds.
The birds waited. And waited. And the moment the dazzling sun peeked its head over the eastern hills, there was a loud flutter of wind.
Things. as each and every bird took off toward the sky.
The birds flew and flew, And after some time, the smaller, weaker ones were running out of steam.
The first to give up was Incy Weency Hummingbird.
I can't do this anymore. Hummingbird didn't make it very far, but she did. own song, a chirpy series of chips that you usually hear around daybreak.
The next bird to call it quits was Chickadee.
And to this day Chickadee has a very simple life.
Very pure song. A little whistling tune of Phoebe or Hey Sweetie.
And so it went, bird by bird. One by one they tired out, Then came back to Earth with their song.
As the sun rose higher and higher, fewer and fewer birds were left.
By evening, it was down to just the larger, strong-winged bird's owl.
I can do this. I can do this. Hawk? I'm not giving up.
Not giving up! And of course, Eagle. I've got this!
I've got this! Before long, though, even the big, powerful birds began to peter out First Owl.
Oh, bother. And then Hawk. Oh, drat. But both of them came back to Earth with some pretty interesting songs.
You've no doubt heard all the neat ways that owl can hoo-hoo-hoo.
Thank you. And as for Hawk, his horse screaming song isn't quite so musical. it is kind of cool.
So now that mightier birds like owl and hawk were out of the game, Can you remember who was left?
Ha ha! Eagle, of course. This settles it.
The most beautiful song of all will be mine.
Mine! But here's the thing. Eagle wasn't alone, right?
Hidden inside his fluffy head feathers was that crafty, rascal hermit thrush.
But Eagle didn't know that. The majestic bird flew higher and higher.
Can't wait to get my song! Can't wait to get my song! and grew wearier and wearier.
Can't wait to get my song. Can't wait to get my song.
But before long, he realized he didn't see another bird anywhere.
Ha ha ha ha! Could it be? Have all the other birds given up and turned back?
That means I've flown the highest! That means I'll get the most beautiful song!
And with that, Eagle swerved around and started soaring back toward Earth.
But the moment he did, do you know what happened? hermit thrush, still concealed under eagle's feathers, let out a smug, scornful laugh and Eagle heard the laughter, but it was too late.
Hermit Thrush had already spread his tiny wings, hopped off Eagle's head, and begun his upward flight.
What in the world? Hermit thrush! Eagle tried changing direction and chasing after the little bird, but he was too fatigued.
He had no choice but to shoot one last withering glance at Hermitrush before dipping back down to Earth with his brand new high-pitched song.
Kermit Thrush, meanwhile, utterly refreshed and full of energy, kept winging his way up and up and up.
He soon came to a hole in the clouds, and on the other side he found himself in the spirit world.
Wow! As Hermit Thrush glided around this glorious, light-filled land...
He heard... a song. But not just any song.
It was a sweet and serene song. An enchanting and ethereal song. a song unlike any he had heard before.
And when Hermit Thrush learned the song and flew back down to the world below, he could hardly wait to show it off to all the other birds.
But as he drew closer, he realized that the other birds did not look happy.
All of them were glaring at him with angry eyes, and eagles were the angriest of all.
There he is! There's the one who stole my song!
The one who... But that's all Hermit Thrush heard.
For in that instant, his glowing feeling of glory was replaced by a rush of remorse.
And as fast as his tiny wings could carry him, he flitted off deep into the woods.
He hid under the branches of the largest tree he could find.
And he stayed there. Some say he's still there today.
That's why you rarely see a hermit thrush out in the open.
But you do hear him. If you're in the right place at the right time, you can hear his sweet, and serene, enchanting and ethereal song.
It's often called the most beautiful song of all.
And the most melancholy. the song of the little brown bird who stole the music.
And as a result... had to face the music too.
Hmm. Now it's your turn. If you were a bird and could create your own song, what would it sound like?
Would it be high or low? Fast or slow? Long or short?
Once you've got an idea for your song, Ask a grownup to hit record on any audio device. then let loose with your bird song.
When you're done recording, share your bird song with us.
Your grown-ups can email your song to circleround at wbur.org.
. . . This week's story, Fool's Threshing, was adapted by me, Rebecca Shearer.
It was edited by our supervising producer, Anne-Marie Sievertson.
Eric Shimilonis does all of our original music and sound design.
Our artist is Sabina Han. Sabina has made a black and white picture for every Circle Round story so you can color while you listen.
Grownups, you can find our coloring pages at wbur.org slash circleround. along with links to the Circle Round soundtrack, t-shirt, and coloring book.
Special thanks to this week's actors. Nick Sholley, Alexia Trainor, Dawn Ursula, and Anthony Alibi.
Watch for Anthony in the original Netflix sitcom Family Reunion.
Our featured instrument this week was the Native American flute.
You can learn more about it and see a photo on our website.
Again, that's wbur.org slash circleround.
Want to help us spread the Circle Round word?
Please give us a five-star review on whatever podcast app you use. and tell your friends to subscribe to the show.
Circle Round is a production of WBUR, Boston's NPR news station.
Thank you. I'm Rebecca Shear. Thanks for circling around with us.
One of the best things about creating Circle Round is hearing from listeners like you.
Circle Round fans have been telling us about their favorite Circle Round stories, and we're excited to share some of their voices with you.
Hello, my name is Avery. I am seven years old, and my favorite Circle Round story It's an almost tail because it has the dragon.
I am Isabel, and my present circle is...
It's normal to help. My name is Mira and I live in Colorado.
And my favorite episode is the rice cakes and the onion. because I like when they drink all the water and then the fish are flopping on the...
Hi, my name is Tyler. I'm from Jacksonville, North Carolina.
My favorite Stork Around story is The Head and the Heart.
I like it. because they both got on the same journey.
Hi, my name is Paloma. My favorite circle?
Mom's story is Santo and the Sea. Because I like the part when the king of the sea says, play faster.
Hi, I'm Leo from St. Elizabeth, Maine, and the favorite store I like It's a giant causeway because I like when Finn McCool builds a bridge. and Ben and Donna comes over it instead of sitting in the pool.
Did someone mention an episode you missed?
No problem! You can find every single Circle Round story on our website.
That's WBUR.org slash Circle Round, or wherever you and your grown-ups get your podcasts.
