The Lion, the Bear, and the Fox*

While wandering through the forest one day

A lion chanced upon

What he hoped would be his dinner--

A young, injured fawn.

 

A bear approached who also had

The same idea in mind.

He was starving, for it had been

Some time since he had dined.

 

Both of them battled fiercely,

Clawing, scratching, biting.

Ultimately, the two became

Exhausted from the fighting.

 

They lay on the ground severely wounded

And trying to catch their breath,

Realizing how much effort

It took to fight to the death.

 

A fox had been observing the scene

From not too far away.

Jumping for joy, he said to himself,

"This is my lucky day!"

 

Too weak to move, the lion and bear

Watched in disbelief

While the fox ran off with fawn

In his mouth. The little thief!

 

The weary fighters agreed that they

Had been extremely unwise:

All that time they had spent fighting

And the fox ran off with the prize!

 

Moral? Some work very hard

And never receive acclaim,

While others receive the credit and profit.

What a rotten shame!

-by Bob B (8-26-21)

*An Aesop fable retold here in verse