Scorpion on a turtle's back

The storyteller sits.
  Moves his feet towards the fire,
   and with a quiet voice,
     finally speaks.

Twist on an old story.

A scorpion takes a ride across a river,
  riding upon a shell,
    and tries to sting midstream.

The turtle continues,
  ignoring multiple stings.

Close to the shore,
   rises and shakes,
    dislodging the scorpion.

Safely,
 but a bit damp.
   Shocked.

The turtle says,
   sadly.

"Blame your nature,
  and say you couldn't help yourself.

 I could have simply sank,
  leaving you to drown.

 Even some as slow as I,
   understand mercy.

With a shake of his head,
  the turtle swam away."

Closes his eyes,
  hiding a reflection of the fire within.

Author's Note

Props to Kl Goode for some helpful edits!

Reviews

[Lyn Anderson]

I like this. It is a nice twist. One suggestion, you could add a line to clarify who is speaking. While I get it, it is a bit awkward without it, as it feels like the scorpion should be asking why he didn't .. does that make sense, or am I rambling ...

[Jon Roggie]

I can see your point. Give me a moment, and see what you think.

[Lyn Anderson]

Perfect, now, just have one set of quotes at the top and bottom, as it is one speaker. I know, I know, but honestly, you have escaped my editing up till now, which says a lot for your careful writing ...

[Jon Roggie]

How about now?

[Jon Roggie]

I may have it a bit closer. I mess up on the use of quotation marks.

[Lyn Anderson]

Pretty close. No quotes needed around Twist on an old story, and none necessary after yourself. That might have been my fault if I didn't take them out in my message.:)

[Jon Roggie]

My fault. Missed that one!

[Lyn Anderson]

Purrfect! Glad to help. Anytime.:)

[Jon Roggie]

My thanks!

[Matching Socks]

I love your fable moods, your stories are so wonderful.

[Jon Roggie]

I still think I would have been a traveling storyteller in a past life.

[Matching Socks]

I do agree!!!

[Jon Roggie]

Hopefully, not the kind I wrote of before!

[John Anderson]

Beautifully inked. You have some wonderful lines here

[Jon Roggie]

I was in one of my fable moods. Thanks!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

mercy comes from the strangest people in the strangest of situations...

there is always a choice---and most of us choose, Mercy...
even if we have to turn the other cheek..or in this case, the other shell.

[Jon Roggie]

After choosing a tortoise, being teased by a couple of fellow poets, the image seemed to fit. I like the message of this one.