Buddha was always keen <br />On one taking quick action, <br />And in support, he told <br />A story of two birds. <br /> <br />“Actions of the past <br />Shape the present. <br />Actions of the present <br />Shape the future bright.” <br /> <br />Two birds lived on a tree <br />Very much happy and free, <br />At night, it became cold <br />And the birds shivered. <br /> <br />The female bird told <br />“I’ll die, it’s too cold <br /> A nest, to keep us warm <br />You build, in day time.” <br /> <br />The male bird said, <br />“I’ll surely build, <br />Tomorrow, a nice one, <br />For us to live in.” <br /> <br />Next day, it forgot <br />To build the nest, <br />As the sun came <br />To keep them warm. <br /> <br />It went on like this <br />For many years, <br />Until they both died, <br />Frozen by deep cold. <br /> <br />Had the male built <br />For them a warm nest <br />They would have survived <br />And some more years, lived. <br /> <br />“If you want to do <br />Tomorrow, do it today. <br />If you want to do <br />Today, do it now.”<br /><br />Rajaram Ramachandran<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/buddha-25-the-story-of-two-birds/
