There once lived a blind king who ruled a great kingdom.
And upon the morning of his anniversary, his five closest subjects came and offered him gifts.
The first was the court composer who had written a song for the king.
And when the king heard it, he found it pleasing to his ears.
The second was the cook who had prepared the king's favorite foods.
The taste delighted the king's palate.
After the cook, the queen arrived bearing a vase filled with fragrant flowers.
The king inhaled deeply and smiled.
Then his tailor approached the throne and offered the king a silken robe which
the tailor had woven with his own hands.
The king felt the fabric and was pleased.
Lastly, his painter came saying:
Oh my lord, behold, in your honor I have decorated the halls of your palace.
And indeed, the painter had created beautiful, colorful images in every corner
of the king's royal home.
But the king was blind and he became angry:
Do you mock me on this most celebrated day in my kingdom?
After thus saying, the king cast the painter out of his kingdom.
And although the other subjects could see the beauty of the artist’s work,
they stood silent with heads bowed.
They too were blind.
And the painter went away sad.
For he had naught to offer save the stroke of his brush.
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