Fable Verse: Lion & Mouse

The Lion and the Mouse 
       (after Aesop) 
  
Lion lies sleeping, silent and still, 
Along comes a mouse and thinks he’s a hill. 
Up the great body the little mouse goes, 
Through mane, across ear, and down Lion’s nose. 
  
But Lion wakes up and gives a great roar, 
Catches poor Mouse in his long cruel claw. 
“How dare you walk over your king and your lord!
For this only death shall be your reward.” 
  
The little mouse shivers and shudders with fright, 
Tries hard to think how to put things a-right. 
“Forgive my mistake, mighty Lion, I pray, 
And I promise to help you too some day.” 
  
At this Lion laughs and shakes to and fro, 
But he’s now in good humour and lets the mouse go. 
  
Days come and days go, and some hunters pass by 
Who set a great lion-trap cunning and sly. 
Lion walks in, unaware of the threat, 
And suddenly finds himself caught in a net. 
  
Frustrated he roars with wrath and despair; 
Little Mouse hears how he’s caught in a snare. 
She remembers her promise and runs without pause 
To the spot where the Lion so rages and roars. 
  
Her sharp little teeth set to gnawing the rope, 
Thread after thread, now the Lion feels hope. 
Soon there’s a hole and the Lion is freed. 
The Mouse has kept her promise indeed!

 Paul King