I really like fableistic stories like this. They almost intrinsically get at the metaphysicality of what words really are, and can do, access or induce.

This one in particular reminds me of the old joke about the guy stuck down a hole haha (guy w/ a ladder comes by, "Need any help?"--"Nah, God will save me"--same to the guy w/ a rope, "Nah, God will save me," same when a rescue helicopter comes by--finally he starves to death in the hole, goes on up to heaven, asks God, "I had so much faith! Why didn't you save me?" And God says, "Man, I sent you a ladder, I sent you a rope...!")