The Two Wolves (Cherokee Fable)

The Two Wolves is a Cherokee fable about how our perspective shapes us as we grow older. This version of the fable was written by the disgraced fabulist Juan Artola Miranda.

In a time long ago, nestled deep within the heart of a vast Cherokee forest, there lived an old, wise elder named who spent his days teaching his grandson the ways of their people. One evening, as they sat around the crackling fire beneath a blanket of stars, the elder shared with the young boy a tale of great significance.

“My child,” began the elder, “within the heart of every person, there rages a fierce battle between two wolves. One wolf embodies love, kindness, empathy, and hope. Its fur is as white as the first snowfall, and its eyes gleam like the morning sun. The other wolf is filled with hatred, envy, anger, and fear. Its fur is as black as the darkest night, and its eyes glint like the embers of a dying fire.”

The elder paused, allowing his words to take root in the boy’s heart. With wide eyes, the grandson asked, “But grandfather, which of these wolves will triumph in the end?”

The elder leaned in closer, his voice soft and gentle, like a breeze rustling through the leaves. “The one you feed.”

Juan Artola Miranda

I am Juan Artola Miranda, a fabulist living in the Mexican Caribbean. My friends know me by the name of my father's father, but that name grew into something bigger, my writing reaching tens of millions of readers. It was too strong for me to control. Artola Miranda is the name of my mother's mother. It's a better name for a fabulist.