The Boy in the River*

A boy was taking a bath in a river--

An occurrence that was nothing new,

For he was a simple lad who lived

In the country and wasn't well-to-do.

 

He slipped on a rock and lost his balance

And splashed about with his arms outspread.

Not a swimmer, he didn’t like being

In water that was over his head.

 

Fearing that he was going to drown,

He called out for help from a passerby,

Who happened to be walking near

The river when he heard the boy's cry.

 

Instead of helping the drowning boy,

The passerby gave him a scolding.

The boy, struggling to stay alive,

Could not believe what was unfolding.

 

The passerby said, “It’s careless of you

To go out where the water’s so deep.

When common sense was distributed,

You were probably fast asleep.”

 

The desperate boy responded by saying,

"Sir, I've listened to what you've told me.

But I would be so grateful if you

Would save me first, then afterwards scold me."

 

We're not sure what happened next.

Let's hope that the passerby was able

To save the boy so there would be

A happy ending to Aesop's fable.

 

If we can learn the following lesson

From Aesop's tale, it would be nice:

In crises, giving assistance is more

Important than merely giving advice.

-by Bob B (8-28-21)

*An Aesop fable retold here in verse