In the heart of an ancient Ukrainian kingdom, there once ruled a mighty king who feared nothing, no army, no storm, no man. Yet one shadow haunted his heart: death. This single word, death, was enough to drain the joy from his riches and power. Though he commanded nations, he could not command his fate. Day and night, the thought consumed him, for he could not bear the idea that one day his life would end.
He summoned his wisest men from every corner of his empire and said, “Find me a charm that will drive away Death, or you shall all die by my hand.”
The wise men trembled before him. They begged for seven days to find an answer. They read ancient scrolls and opened sacred books, yet every word led them to the same truth: All that is born must die. When the seven days were done, they stood before the king, pale and trembling.
“O King,” said they, “there is no charm against Death. It comes to all, even to kings.”
Fury burned in the king’s eyes. “Then you are of no use to me!” he thundered, raising his sword. But one old man, his beard white as snow, stepped forward and cried, “Spare me, O King, and I will tell thee how to escape Death.”
The king paused. “Speak quickly, old one.”
“Beyond the mountains, beyond the sea,” said the elder, “there lies a hidden valley. In that valley grows a flower that never fades. If you pluck that flower and keep it in your hand, Death shall never come near you.”
The king’s heart leapt. “Bring me this flower!”
The old man bowed. “No man may pluck it save thou thyself.”
Without hesitation, the king gathered his soldiers and set out across mountains, deserts, and stormy rivers. Many perished on the journey, but still he pressed on until he came to a lonely, shining valley. In its centre, beneath a golden mist, a single flower glowed, its petals bright as a star.
The king dismounted and stepped forward. Suddenly, a soft voice drifted through the air. “Come not hither, O King.”
The king stopped, startled. “Who speaks?”
“It is I,” said the voice, “the Voice of Death. Turn back, for no man may touch that flower and live in peace.”
But pride burned brighter than fear. The king laughed. “I fear thee not!”
He strode forward, and again the voice called: “Touch not that flower, lest thou repent!”
Yet he did not listen. He bent and plucked the radiant bloom. Instantly, thunder rolled, the ground shuddered, and darkness fell.
Then the voice came again, nearer and colder. “Thou hast plucked the flower of life from its place. Thou canst not die, yet thou shalt not live.”
The king trembled. “What meanest thou?” he cried, but the voice gave no answer, only whispered, “Return to thy palace, and thou shalt know.”
The king returned home, still clutching the shining flower. For a time, he rejoiced, believing he had conquered death. But as the years passed, he began to see the curse behind his victory. His servants grew old and died. His children perished. His city crumbled into dust. New generations rose who did not know his name.
And still, the king lived on.
Loneliness became his only companion. He wandered through his ruined halls, calling out to Death, but Death came no more. The flower in his hand withered, yet it never died. Its dim glow mocked him as his world faded to silence.
At last, weary beyond words, he journeyed again to the lonely valley. The light was gone; the place lay still. The air seemed heavy with sorrow. He fell to his knees and cried, “O Voice of Death, where art thou? Have mercy, take me now!”
A soft wind stirred, and once more the voice spoke, gentle as a lullaby. “Lay down the flower, and thou shalt rest.”
The king dropped the withered blossom upon the earth and sank beside it. A radiant light broke through the clouds, bathing him in peace.
“Now,” whispered the Voice of Death, “thou hast found rest. He who would live forever must first learn to die.”
And so the king’s soul found peace at last. The valley was silent once more, and none who came there ever found the flower again.
Moral of the Story
True peace lies not in fleeing death but in understanding it. Those who fear mortality most often lose the joy of life itself.
Knowledge Check
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Who is the main character in The Voice of Death?
The story centres on a powerful king who tries to escape death. -
What does the flower in the valley symbolize?
It represents humanity’s desire for immortality and the illusion of control over life and death. -
Why did the king seek the flower?
He wanted to live forever and escape the fear of dying. -
What lesson does the king learn at the end?
That eternal life without peace or purpose is worse than death. -
What is the cultural origin of the folktale?
This story originates from the Ukrainian (Galicia region) oral tradition. -
What moral theme defines the story?
Acceptance of mortality and the balance between life and death.
Source: Adapted from the Ukrainian folktale “The Voice of Death” in Cossack Fairy Tales and Folk Tales by Robert Nisbet Bain (1916), Project Gutenberg eBook #29672.
Cultural Origin: Ukraine (Galicia region folklore)
