THE BALLAD OF SALTED SHOES

Bahtiyar Hidayet Azerbaijan

In ancient times

There was a tyrant—an old king.

His cruelty was so great

That even cruelty itself was horrified.

One day, sensing his death was near,

He called his heir:

“Are you ready, my son? The throne is yours.”

The son was ready—

But the king decided to test him.

Two rams were brought.

For a month, each of them fed one.

A month later—

The heir’s ram, fat and strong,

Left the bodyguards crippled.

But the king’s ram—

So thin that its ribs showed through its skin.

And the most terrible part:

The king sprinkled salt

On his shoes.

The ram began to lick them.

The heir learned a great lesson.

One day, as the tyrant was dying,

The devil asked him:

“What will happen to the country?”

The king replied:

“You will have to work with my heir.”

The devil trembled and said:

“Enough… even evil has its limits.”

…And the heir

Became a very “good” king.

Seeing his cruelty,

The people prayed for his father.

They licked

His salted shoes.

And he pressed

On the people’s wounds—

Even though

There was no salt

In their food.