Part 1 of Fifty traditional poetry forms is the thread titled, Where Are You?
11- Fable
A fable is a poetic story composed in verse or prose with a moral summed up at the end. Usually using animals as characters to teach a valuable lesson.
The Lion and The Unicorn
In earth's early days under a changing sky
A lion and a unicorn met by a wayside pool.
“Stay old lion and talk with me a merry while.”
Said the prancing unicorn under the changing sky.
“Not so my dancing friend. Here is welcome and cool
But I must still go on for a few more miles.”
Unicorn saw his reflection in the wayside pool.
He thought himself most handsome and lion rather dull.
“You look so worn and weary. Why do you hurry so?
Come rest and lap the sweet waters of this wayside pool.”
“I'll take a drink”, said lion, “but there's no time to lull
Don't you see the changing sky, the black clouds how they grow?”
“Lion you trouble me. What mean these gathering clouds?
Where is it that you run to with such determined pace?”
Lion finished drinking, stretched and set himself to go.
“Hear bright beast, much water will come from these gather'n clouds.
Our God has decreed destruction for the human race.
A life boat has been given and to it now I go.”
Unicorn how he snorted, “Old beast you are deranged.
Water from the sky, such a thing has never been.
Who told you such a fable to make you so afraid?
Too much time with foolish beasts, by that you are deranged.”
But lion away was gone, no longer to be seen.
So unicorn lay him down in the poolside shade.
Half asleep he half dreamed he danced upon the pool
While all around the trees dripped with water from the sky.
He heard the noise of growling, of crackling in the clouds
And all his dancing, prancing made rings upon the pool.
Then a flash, a crack, all awake, his thoughts all awry.
All wet and cold he was and the dark sky growled loud.
Up stood bright beast on his feet, his heart was full of dread.
To get to where old lion went, was now his only thought.
He flew full pelt through the gloom, across earth's sodden land,
Water streaming off his back, his heart was full of dread.
Though so strong, his strength grew weak, his pride was come to naught.
Soon hardly could he pass through the sinking miry sand.
Then ahead he saw it clear, lit by the flashing clouds.
On a long flat rock, a long black boat, high as tall trees.
And on the ground all around with faces lifted up
Was a soaking multitude lit by the flashing clouds.
High on the boat's sheer sides lighted windows they could see
But there was no way to get in, there was no way up.
Forlorn, the unicorn knew his days on earth were done.
Water pouring off his back the growling in his ears,
Around the flashing clouds lit the dark scene he could see.
The weary beast bowed his horn, his days on earth were done.
How foolish to think that God never intervenes.
How foolish to think that such things could never be.
~~~~~~
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11- Fable
A fable is a poetic story composed in verse or prose with a moral summed up at the end. Usually using animals as characters to teach a valuable lesson.
The Lion and The Unicorn
In earth's early days under a changing sky
A lion and a unicorn met by a wayside pool.
“Stay old lion and talk with me a merry while.”
Said the prancing unicorn under the changing sky.
“Not so my dancing friend. Here is welcome and cool
But I must still go on for a few more miles.”
Unicorn saw his reflection in the wayside pool.
He thought himself most handsome and lion rather dull.
“You look so worn and weary. Why do you hurry so?
Come rest and lap the sweet waters of this wayside pool.”
“I'll take a drink”, said lion, “but there's no time to lull
Don't you see the changing sky, the black clouds how they grow?”
“Lion you trouble me. What mean these gathering clouds?
Where is it that you run to with such determined pace?”
Lion finished drinking, stretched and set himself to go.
“Hear bright beast, much water will come from these gather'n clouds.
Our God has decreed destruction for the human race.
A life boat has been given and to it now I go.”
Unicorn how he snorted, “Old beast you are deranged.
Water from the sky, such a thing has never been.
Who told you such a fable to make you so afraid?
Too much time with foolish beasts, by that you are deranged.”
But lion away was gone, no longer to be seen.
So unicorn lay him down in the poolside shade.
Half asleep he half dreamed he danced upon the pool
While all around the trees dripped with water from the sky.
He heard the noise of growling, of crackling in the clouds
And all his dancing, prancing made rings upon the pool.
Then a flash, a crack, all awake, his thoughts all awry.
All wet and cold he was and the dark sky growled loud.
Up stood bright beast on his feet, his heart was full of dread.
To get to where old lion went, was now his only thought.
He flew full pelt through the gloom, across earth's sodden land,
Water streaming off his back, his heart was full of dread.
Though so strong, his strength grew weak, his pride was come to naught.
Soon hardly could he pass through the sinking miry sand.
Then ahead he saw it clear, lit by the flashing clouds.
On a long flat rock, a long black boat, high as tall trees.
And on the ground all around with faces lifted up
Was a soaking multitude lit by the flashing clouds.
High on the boat's sheer sides lighted windows they could see
But there was no way to get in, there was no way up.
Forlorn, the unicorn knew his days on earth were done.
Water pouring off his back the growling in his ears,
Around the flashing clouds lit the dark scene he could see.
The weary beast bowed his horn, his days on earth were done.
How foolish to think that God never intervenes.
How foolish to think that such things could never be.
~~~~~~
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