The Pot that Would Not Hold

The Parable of the Broken Pot is an Ai-Naidari parable and has many versions. This version of the Parable of the Broken Pot first appeared in chapter twenty of Black Blossom.

"Reck this: There once was a country Merchant, an aridkedi, who specialized in the creation of pots. So deft was she in their creation that she mended any of her pots that returned to her broken, or offered replacement if the break was irredeemable."

"One day a Public Servant was browsing her wares, exclaiming over their fine quality, the subtlety of their glazes, the daintiness of their lips and the strength of their handles. This he continued to do as she worked patiently in the back of the shop, bringing forth new pots from the kiln and examining old ones."

"The Public Servant had just chosen a new pot for himself when he heard a great crash. He rushed to the back of the shop and found the aridkedi surrounded in the shattered remains of one of her works."

"’How now, aridkedi!’ he cried. ‘What has passed here?’"

"’I have dropped a pot,’ said she."

"’What a pity!’ he exclaimed. ‘What a terrible accident!’"

"’Oh,’ said she. ‘It was no accident. I dropped it on purpose.’"

"’But why?’ he asked, bewildered."

"’It is a new design,’ said she. ‘I had to know how it would break.’"

"As he watched, she began to sweep up the shards. When he did not go, she said, ‘That pot would never have held. I will try a new design.’"

"This is the tale of the broken pot. Reck it well."