The Wise Goose and the Climbing Vine

A Timeless Lesson on Foresight and Respecting Elders

A tiny vine looked harmless  but the elder goose warned it would one day become a path for danger. No one listened. When the hunter came, only the same elder’s wisdom saved them. Knowledge may help us fly, but wisdom shows us where and when to fly.

Life in the Great Tree

Once upon a time, dozens of geese lived together in a huge, ancient tree. Among them was an old, wise goose. Everyone called him Taau  a title of affection and respect.

One day, Taau noticed a small green vine wrapping itself around the trunk of the tree. It seemed harmless. Fragile. Almost invisible.

Yet he called the younger geese and said very seriously:

“Pull this vine out immediately. If you don’t, it will one day bring disaster upon all of us.”

The younger geese laughed.

“It’s just a tiny plant!”

“Taau is overthinking again.”

“He’s just trying to act wise.”

No one took him seriously.

When the Tiny Vine Became a Ladder

Days passed. Months changed. Seasons moved.

And the vine did exactly what Taau predicted.

It climbed higher around the tree trunk.

It thickened.

It hardened.

It slowly became like a natural ladder  strong enough for anyone to climb.

By the time the geese noticed the danger, it was too late to uproot it.

One afternoon, when all the geese were out gathering food, a hunter passed by. He saw the vine, climbed it easily, set up a large net on the branches, and left silently.

Trapped in Their Own Home

Evening came.

The geese flew back, landed on the branches  and instantly got trapped in the net.

They panicked. Screamed. Flapped their wings.

But there was no escape.

And in that helpless moment, they remembered the one voice they had ignored  Taau.

Ashamed and terrified, they said:

“Taau, we were foolish. Please don’t abandon us. Tell us how to survive.”

Wisdom at Work

Taau stayed calm and said quietly:

“Listen carefully. When the hunter comes tomorrow morning, do not move. Lie still and act dead. He will think you are lifeless, remove you from the net, and place you on the ground. Wait. When the last goose is placed down, I will whistle. Then we all fly together.”

The next morning, the hunter arrived.

Everything happened exactly as Taau had said.

He saw the geese motionless and believed they were dead.

He removed them one by one and dropped them on the ground.

The last bird was Taau.

The moment his feet touched the soil  he whistled.

In a flash, all the geese flew up and escaped into the sky.

The hunter stood there  shocked, defeated.

Why This Story Still Matters Today

This isn’t just about geese and a vine. It’s about us.

Elders may not always bring money  but they bring wisdom.

They may not give fruit like a tree  but they provide shade, safety, and guidance.

Disrespecting elders may not hurt today  but it leaves us unprepared for tomorrow.

In many families today, old parents and grandparents are treated like burdens. Forgotten. Ignored. But they are living libraries of experience.

Just like the vine turned into a ladder for danger  small acts of disrespect can turn into big regrets.

A Simple Reminder

You can rent a house, clothes, and even affection.

But you cannot rent blessings, values, or prayers.

These come only from parents, grandparents, and elders.

Honor their presence while you still can.

Because wisdom, once lost  doesn’t return like geese.