The Sparrow Who Carried the Sky

One morning, the sky began to sag. Clouds drooped low over the trees. The mountains groaned.

“The sky is too heavy,” said the buffalo. “I cannot lift it,” said the tiger. “I cannot push it,” said the elephant.

A tiny sparrow flew beneath the sky and held up her feet. “I will help,” she said. The animals laughed. “You are too small.”

The sparrow did not move. Soon an ant stood beside her. Then a squirrel. Then a goat. Then the tiger. Then the elephant.

Together, they pushed. The sky rose higher and higher until sunlight spilled across the land.

The elephant looked at the sparrow. “You did not lift the sky alone,” he said.

“No,” said the sparrow. “But I was first to try.”