Aesop’s fables have for centuries offered timeless wisdom wrapped in simple, engaging narratives. Rob Crisell, in his book The Fantastic Fables of Aesop, reimagines these classic tales in modern verse, bringing their enduring lessons to life through accessible language and rhythmic forms. This article delves into two examples from his collection: “Belling the Cat” and “The Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs,” exploring how Crisell uses poetic techniques to retell these familiar stories and highlight their practical morals.
Crisell’s approach maintains the core narrative and moral of each fable but infuses them with a contemporary feel through conversational language and consistent rhyme and meter. This makes the poems particularly engaging, staying true to the fables’ original purpose of instruction through entertainment. Let’s examine each poem in turn to understand Crisell’s poetic craftsmanship.
Belling the Cat
This retelling of the classic tale presents the dilemma of mice tormented by a predatory cat. Crisell captures the mice’s desperation and the seemingly clever solution proposed by a young mouse.
The mice called a council to try to defeat
A troublesome cat who would ruthlessly eat
Any mouse in the house that she happened to meet.
A young mouse spoke first. “Pay attention to me.
We’ll fasten a bell on the cat, then you’ll see
That when she comes near us, we will hear her and flee.”
The mice yelled, “Hooray! Why, your plan’s just the thing!
Now all we require are a bell and some string.”
They thanked the young mouse and declared him their king.
An old mouse stood up. “Well, before you do that,
Let me say that your plan will fall horribly flat.
For which of you dares put a bell on the cat?”The poem uses AAB rhyme scheme in each stanza, giving it a straightforward, almost nursery-rhyme-like quality that suits the fable’s simplicity. The rhythm is generally consistent, making it easy to read aloud. Crisell clearly outlines the problem, the proposed solution, the enthusiastic reaction, and the crucial, challenging question posed by the older, wiser mouse. The language is direct (“ruthlessly eat,” “horribly flat”), painting a vivid picture of the mice’s predicament and the stark reality check. The fable’s core lesson about the difference between planning and execution is effectively conveyed through this structure.
A cartoon illustration depicting a group of mice gathered in discussion, with one mouse speaking at the front, presenting a plan.
The moral, presented separately, acts as a concise summary:
MORAL
A plan that’s easy to conceive,
Might be too queasy to achieve.This couplet, also rhyming, distills the narrative into a memorable lesson, reinforcing the practicality of the fables. The use of “queasy” adds a touch of modern, informal language that makes the lesson feel relatable.
The Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs
This second poem recounts the story of the woman and her miraculous goose, illustrating the destructive nature of greed. Crisell expands slightly on the original, adding details about how the woman spends her wealth and introducing a dramatic, albeit humorous, consequence.
A woman owned a magic goose
That laid one golden egg each day.
As I suppose you might deduce,
She used the yellow orbs to pay
For paintings, boats, and fancy homes,
New cars, guitars, and stranger stuff,
Like chocolate frogs and dancing gnomes.
But one egg a day was not enough!
“Rats,” she muttered in frustration.
“I bet that goose is crammed with gold.”
And with no further hesitation,
She knocked the magic bird out cold.
Inside the goose what did she find?
Exactly what goose guts should hold—
A half-chewed bug, some grass, a rind,
But not a single ounce of gold.
Then when she then tried to hide her sin,
The geese police came barging in.
They cuffed her tight and kicked her shin,
And she was never seen again.This poem employs an ABCB rhyme scheme, common in ballads and narrative poetry, providing a slightly different musicality than “Belling the Cat.” The language is colloquial (“As I suppose you might deduce,” “stranger stuff,” “knocked the magic bird out cold”), which keeps the tone light despite the serious theme. Crisell vividly portrays the woman’s escalating desire and foolish impatience, culminating in her rash act. The discovery inside the goose adds a touch of grim realism, contrasting sharply with the magical premise. The final stanza introduces a darkly comical twist with the “geese police,” adding an unexpected element of consequence not typically found in the original fable but serving to emphasize the finality of her loss.
The moral for this poem offers a direct, pragmatic warning:
MORAL
If something gives you gold,
Don’t eat it. Breed it!This moral is less a traditional philosophical statement and more a piece of practical, albeit cynical, advice grounded in the narrative outcome. “Breed it!” is a humorous subversion of the expected lesson, highlighting the immense, ongoing value of the source compared to a single, destructive act. It’s a memorable and slightly quirky twist on the classic message about not killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.
Rob Crisell’s retellings demonstrate the enduring power of fables and the flexibility of poetic form. By using clear, modern language, consistent rhyme and rhythm, and a touch of contemporary humor (like the “geese police”), he successfully makes these ancient lessons accessible and enjoyable for a modern audience. His poems serve as excellent examples of how classical narratives can be revitalized through verse, proving that the wisdom of Aesop continues to resonate today. These pieces not only entertain but also effectively convey timeless truths about human nature and the consequences of our choices, whether it’s the challenge of practical action or the folly of unchecked greed.