Aesop’s fables have for centuries offered timeless wisdom through simple, engaging narratives. These tales, featuring animals and everyday situations, distil complex moral lessons into memorable stories. Translating these fables into poetry adds a new layer of artistic expression, combining the clarity of the original moral with the rhythm, imagery, and emotional resonance of verse. Here, we explore two such poetic retellings by Rob Crisell, bringing “The Tortoise and the Hare” and “The Lion and the Three Bulls” to life in distinct poetic forms.
The Tortoise and the Hare in Limerick
The classic tale of perseverance versus overconfidence is presented here in the playful form of limericks. This choice of form is interesting; the limerick’s strict AABBA rhyme scheme and anapestic meter lend themselves to lighthearted or humorous subjects, often with a punchline. Crisell uses this structure to capture the essence of the race and the characters’ personalities with brevity and wit.
A tortoise and hare were a-talkin’.
Said Hare: “Why, your slowness is shockin’!
__If we ran a race,
__You’d be a disgrace.
I’d win, even if I were walkin’.”
Said Tortoise, “No, hare, I would beat you.
As swift as you are, I’d defeat you.”
__They lined up to run.
__Hare said: “Three, Two, ONE!”
At zero, her fleet rabbit feet flew.
Sure enough, Hare saw she was winning.
“That tortoise is barely beginning!
__Since he can’t close the gap,
__I have time for a nap.”
She fell asleep, practically grinning.
As Hare took her rest, Tortoise passed her.
Awaking, she sensed a disaster.
__Hare finished the race,
__But got second place.
Slow and steady is better than faster.
MORAL
Those who snooze
Often lose.
The limerick form effectively highlights the quick, boastful nature of the Hare and the steady, deliberate pace of the Tortoise. The rapid-fire rhymes mimic the Hare’s initial speed, while the final stanza’s conclusion delivers the moral succinctly, demonstrating how even a light form can convey a significant message. The humor inherent in limericks adds to the accessibility, making the moral particularly memorable.
The Lion and the Three Bulls: A Narrative in Verse
This fable teaches the vital lesson of unity and its strength. When united, the three bulls are formidable; divided by distrust, they fall easily. The poetic retelling adopts a more standard narrative structure with quatrains, allowing for a slightly more detailed unfolding of the plot and the Lion’s deceptive strategy.
Three bulls were once the closest friends,
And grazed in a pasture together.
They rarely argued, never fought,
Stayed faithful in fair and foul weather.
One day a lion saw the bulls
And decided that he would soon eat them.
He knew, united, they would win,
But divided, he could defeat them.
He told false tales around the pasture
Of jealousy, distrust, and lies.
The bulls soon grew to hate each other
And with one another cut ties.
Each bull staked out a private place
As far apart as could be.
Then Lion caught them one by one,
And ate them individually.
MORAL
United we stand, divided we fall.
When friendship fails, our enemies call.
The consistent rhyme and meter provide a clear narrative flow, guiding the reader through the Lion’s manipulation and the tragic outcome for the bulls. The language is direct and purposeful, mirroring the straightforward nature of the fable itself. The poem emphasizes the emotional shift in the bulls – from loyal friends to distrustful individuals – making the impact of the moral even stronger.
Illustration depicting the three bulls from Aesop's fable, featured in a poetry collection.
These two poems, featured in Rob Crisell’s book The Fantastic Fables of Aesop (De Portola Press, 2023), showcase the enduring power of fables and the versatility of poetry in retelling them. Whether through the lighthearted structure of a limerick or the steady pace of a narrative poem, verse can illuminate these classic stories and their crucial lessons in fresh, engaging ways, reminding readers young and old of the simple truths that govern our lives and relationships. The choice of poetic form enhances the specific moral and tone of each fable, proving that even well-known tales can find new life and resonance through the art of poetry.