Once upon a time, in the dark of night,
A thief tried to enter, without any light.
He crept up to the door, and tried to pry,
But a voice shouted out, "You can't come inside!"

The thief was startled, and turned around quick,
But all he could see was a parrot's beak.
The bird was perched on an exercise book,
And he squawked, "Tell me a story, if you can look!"

The thief was surprised, and he scratched his head,
He didn't know what to do, or what to say instead.
But he thought for a moment, and then he spoke,
"I'll tell you a story, if you let me go."

So the thief told a tale, with a torch for light,
About a brave hero, who fought with all his might.
The parrot listened, and flapped his wings,
And then something strange happened, an amazing thing.

The exercise book started to glow and shine,
And the parrot spoke again, this time very kind.
"I like your story, but stealing is wrong,
If you want to do right, then you must be strong."

The thief listened, and then he smiled,
He knew he had been wrong, he felt so beguiled.
He put down his torch, and his tools of the trade,
And decided to change, to live a good life he prayed.

And from that day on, he never stole again,
He used his voice to spread the word, to all his friends.
And every night, he'd visit the parrot and the book,
And share stories and laughs, and they'd always look.

So kids, remember, it's never too late,
To make a change, to set things straight.
And if you're lost in the dark, just like the thief,
Listen for the voice, that can give you relief.

Reflections

1. What did the thief learn from the parrot's story?
2. What did the parrot do that helped the thief to change his ways?
3. Why is stealing wrong?
4. What other things could the thief have done instead of stealing?
5. How did the exercise book play a role in the story?
6. Have you ever heard a story that taught you an important lesson? What was the lesson?
7. How can you be brave like the hero in the thief's story?
8. What is the importance of listening to others and learning from their experiences?
9. Can you think of a time when you made a mistake and learned from it?
10. What message do you think the poem is trying to convey?