weeam boumaza

In the Valley of the Quest, the travelers must cast aside all dogma, belief, and unbelief to open their minds to possibility. They continue to the Valley of Love, where they must abandon reason and embrace passionate love with a full heart. From there, they reach the Valley of Insight into Mystery, where the birds must accept the uselessness of

And for sheer poetic perfection:

“I too am lost; I leave no trace, no mark;
I am a shadow cast upon the dark,
A drop sunk in the sea, and it is vain
To search the sea for that one drop again.” (pg. 213)

On the search of happiness:

“If in this world you seek for happiness
You are asleep, your search is meaningless-
If you seek happiness you would do well
To think of that thin bridge arched over hell.” (pg. 122)

On distractions:

“But if you sink to its swirl alone
Your head will some mill’s enormous stone ;
The least distraction will divert your mind
From that tranquility you hope to find.” (pg. 87)

Each bird represents a form of human weakness and perhaps, you can empathise with all of them. The finch is a coward, the nightingale is a lover, the duck is someone too comfortable on its own surroundings, to name a few examples.

The birds finally embark on the journey across the seven valleys: quest, love, understanding, detachment, unity,