The Poacher

THE POACHER

A poacher was captured in the woods and brought to the local nobleman for punishment.  The nobleman was bored and decided to amuse himself by challenging the poacher.

"You have been caught stealing my deer.  The sentence is death.  However, I am in the mood to be entertained.  If you can convince me why I should spare your life, you shall go free."

The poacher paused for a moment.  This was most unexpected.  Finally he said, "Simply put, sire, it was not your deer."

The nobleman, taken aback by this asked, "What do you mean?  It was in my forest!"

The poacher replied, "With all respect, m’lord, it is not your forest.  If you might indulge me a chance to prove my point.  I am certain I can entertain you."

The nobleman thought on this for a moment.

"Fine.  Tell me then, how is it not my forest?"

The poacher asked, "Well, sire, do you tell the trees when to grow?"

The nobleman responded, astonished, "of course not!  What difference does that make?"

The poacher then asked, "Well, sire, did you tell the deer when to have children?"

The nobleman, now agitated, responded, "Of course not!  Tell me, what is the point of this?  How does any of this give you the right to kill my deer?"

The poacher replied, "Well, m’lord, then it is not your forest.  How can you claim something you cannot control?  I certainly don't claim those deer.  I did not even have the right to kill that deer. Those animals have a right to their own lives.  Yet, I am starving as are my children.  I killed one deer to feed my family.  I am not sure that I am a worthy recipient for the life it might have had.  I had hoped that what it would have given to me and my children might have given us the chance to bring something amazing into this world.

Now that is wasted.  The deer was left to rot, my children likely condemned to die from neglect and starvation, and you will be unaffected, save a little entertainment at my expense.  

I killed one of the deer in these woods, yes.  I also thanked it for its sacrifice.  Maybe it meant nothing to something already dead, I do not know.   It meant something to me because I value what it gave up for me.  When was the last time you thanked some poor chap you killed on the battlefield for his sacrifice to let you stay in these hallowed halls?  When was the last time you were grateful for the sacrifices those under your care make for you?"

The nobleman was outraged.  "Why you ingrate!  I keep you safe!  My guard keeps you from fearing for your life!  My army protects your home!"

The poacher retorted, "My nobleman, you are mistaken!  I have never seen your guard arrive until after the bandits have left.  I have never seen your army until after my home was put to the torch.  You have provided nothing to me.  Everything I have is something I have done for myself.  I do not mean to seem ungrateful, sire.  I simply have nothing to be grateful for.  I do not mean to take anything from you, either, because I would not want anything taken from me. 

That deer might have died from old age if I had not killed it and you would have given it no thought.   Now, because of your soldiers, it is rotting in the woods.   No has gained anything from this.  There has only been the loss of one deer’s life.   And so I ask you, sire... What would you accuse me of?"

The nobleman was furious.  He slammed his fist down onto the arm of his throne.

"Send him to the dungeons!”

The guards grabbed the poacher and drug him away.

That night, the nobleman did not sleep.  He paced his room for hours, often stopping to stare out the window at the forest beyond.  When day broke, he brought the poacher before him.   He peered intensely at the poacher.  Then he stood, approached the poacher, and bowed deeply.

"I bow to you because you have done what no other man in my charge would dare.   You have humbled me.  I did not sleep last night.  I am troubled that I have lost my place in the world.   Your words have reminded me that I am mortal and no more or less of a man than any other in my charge.

"You are correct in that I can bring about the death of everything in this realm, but I cannot control the life of anything.  I could, by right, kill you for killing a deer I thought I owned, but that would bring nothing but your death.  Nothing is gained.  It is obvious that we have something to learn here.  I therefore release you with no charges.  My kitchen will give you the equivalent of what we have wasted on this ordeal.

Go now and try to be happy."