"You're Welcome!"°

Walking along a dusty road

In the heat of a summer's day,

Two weary travelers looked for a place

To rest along the way.

 

They wanted to find shelter from

The fiery rays of the sun.

One said, "Look! I see a place."

The other said, "Well done!"

 

They sauntered to spot nearby

Where a plane tree stood,

And plopped down on the ground below.

Ah, the shade felt good!

 

While lying there, one of the travelers

Looked up at the tree,

And said to the other, "This tree is quite

Useless. Don't you agree?

 

"It drops its leaves and produces no fruit.

Although it stands so tall,

It basically doesn't perform any

Service to mankind at all."

 

"You ungrateful person!," cried

The plane tree full of rage.

"How dare you be so insolent

With somebody my age!

 

"Here I stand protecting you

From the scorching rays

Emitted by the sun and yet

I get no word of praise.

 

"You enjoy my cool shade

And find relief therefrom

And then go on to say that I'm

A good-for-nothing bum."

 

Ah, the poor tree learned that human

Beings can be rude,

When they upon receiving kindness

Display ingratitude.

 

-by Bob B (8-24-21)

 

°An Aesop fable, "The Travelers and the Plane Tree," retold here in verse