Explore the timeless wisdom of Aesop’s fables brought to life through the evocative verse of Rob Crisell. From his collection, The Fantastic Fables of Aesop, two classic tales are reimagined, offering profound morals wrapped in engaging, accessible poetry. These poems delve into familiar lessons about honesty and social perspective, reminding readers of all ages about fundamental truths.
The Boy Who Cried Wolf
This famous fable warns of the consequences of deceit. Crisell’s poem captures the boy’s initial boredom and mischievous intent, building to the inevitable moment when his lies catch up with him. The narrative flows simply, emphasizing the stark reality that unfolds.
Once there lived a shepherd boy who
Despised his dull profession.
His job was to alert the town
When wolves would show aggression.One Saturday in late July,
He thought it would be hilarious
To stand at pasture’s edge and shout,
“A wolf! Come quick! It’s precarious!”The people came from all around
With pitchforks, poles, and sharpened scythes,
And as they looked about for wolves,
Hot tears of laughter filled his eyes.The boy adored his prank so much,
He did it every other day.
When citizens from town would come,
“Ha, Ha! Fooled you!” was all he’d say.Until a wolf at last appeared.
“A wolf!” the boy yelled, crying.
But this time people stayed at home;
They thought that he was lying!The wolf ate several lambs that day,
And slinked away with a grin.
From that day forth the shepherd boy
Never cried wolf again.
The accompanying moral is a direct and powerful statement on the loss of trust that results from repeated falsehoods.
MORAL
If you’re a liar and try to deceive,
When you tell the truth, they’ll never believe.
Crisell’s rhyming couplets and clear storytelling make this classic lesson easy to grasp and remember. The poem effectively conveys the shepherd boy’s progression from boredom to dangerous manipulation and the community’s justified skepticism.
Illustration of a boy sitting by sheep on a hillside pointing and yelling, with village people running towards him carrying tools
The final stanza and moral underline the severe cost of his actions, extending beyond just his reputation to tangible loss. This retelling highlights the importance of honesty, especially when the well-being of others depends on your word.
Second illustration related to The Boy Who Cried Wolf fable, showing the boy looking distressed while a wolf among the sheep on the hillside
The Donkey and Her Master
This less common fable offers a sharp social commentary on the perspective of the working class during political upheaval. Crisell’s poem presents a dialogue between the donkey and her fearful master as an enemy army approaches.
As donkey stood peacefully eating some grass,
Her master saw soldiers approaching them fast.
“The enemy’s here! We must get on the road!”
“Why?” asked the donkey. “Will they double my load?”“No,” he replied. “You would simply exchange
One boss for another. Your work wouldn’t change.”
Said Donkey, “Then it makes no difference to me.
I’ll stay here and eat. You go on and flee.”
The conversation reveals the donkey’s pragmatic, albeit bleak, view. For the donkey, the change in masters doesn’t alter the fundamental reality of its laborious existence.
MORAL
Though governments change
Their style and their name,
For those at the bottom,
The view stays the same.
This moral provides a poignant commentary on how political shifts often fail to improve the lives of the most marginalized or burdened members of society. Crisell’s simple, direct language effectively delivers this powerful message through the donkey’s perspective.
These poetic retellings from Rob Crisell’s The Fantastic Fables of Aesop demonstrate the enduring power of fables to teach valuable lessons through simple, compelling narratives. They offer a fresh, engaging way to revisit these classic tales and their relevant morals.
(These poems appear in Rob Crisell’s new book The Fantastic Fables of Aesop, De Portola Press, 2023)