Nursery Rhyme
A wise old owl sat in an oak,
The more he saw the less he spoke.
The less he spoke the more he heard,
Why can’t we all be like that wise old bird?History and Meaning
The historical origin of "A Wise Old Owl" is vague and cannot be determined. The first known record came when John D. Rockefeller quoted it in a speech he delivered in 1915. It was also used during World War II, with the final word being altered from "bird" to "soldier." For the soldiers the message was silence meant safety. Most interpretations of the nursery rhyme are that it’s meant to teach children the wisdom and importance of being quiet and observing. This idea is supported because of the use of the owl, an animal whose behavior consists of watching patiently when hunting for pray.
My Interpretation
When I was read "A Wise Old Owl," the first images that came to mind were that of Gandhi and Martin Luther King; both of who had been strong advocates for non-violence during their lives. I attributed the act of not speaking to be the same message as not turning to violence to solve a problem.
Both Martin Luther King strongly encouraged that the more violence that was directed towards you, the more you should resist returning it with more violence. The less he spoke the more he heard, relates to the notion that the less they resisted violently the more they would actually accomplish. Both men were extremely influential in changing their societies; which can arguably be attributed to their methods.
The last line of the reads "Why can’t we all be like that wise old owl," this line made think about how to this day people are still turning to violence to as a means of rebellion and protest, instead of use non-violent methods to bring about change.