The Stag and His Reflection°

A Poem by Bob B

A thirsty stag wandered into

A meadow to reach a pool.

He saw his reflection in the clear water

And thought to himself, "How cool!

"What a beautiful pair of antlers!

I can't believe they're mine.

The curves are superb; they spread out so far.

They're UTTERLY divine!

"But, oh, what ugly legs I have!

They need some readjusting.

How skinny and weak and contorted they look!

They couldn't be more disgusting."

All of a sudden, a lion appeared.

Then a chase ensued.

The stag knew that he had to run fast

Or he'd be lion food.

At first the ground over which he ran

Was free of many trees.

He was able to outrun the lion

With the greatest of ease.

However, soon he came to the woods

Where branches were hanging low.

His antlers got caught in the branches, and he

Staggered to and fro.

As the lion approached the stag,

The stag could clearly see

That he was about to die, and so

He cried, "Oh, woe is me!

"While I despised my legs, I praised

My antlers to the skies.

Ironically, my antlers will

Lead to my demise."

The moral? We should stop and think

Before we gloat or boast,

For far too often we value the least

What is worth the most.

-by Bob B (8-26-21)

°An Aesop fable retold here in verse

© 2021 Bob B

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Reviews

Carlos Lorenzo Estrada

I can't help but rant today about horse medicine! What is wrong with these people? Horse medicine! They'll take medication for animals but not a shot for human beings? What is happening to this country? Horse medicine...seriously? I apologize for the rant, Bob. But as each day passes I'm starting to feel exactly like that stag in this poem.