A Timeless Tale*

A farmer working in a field

Felt compassion for his horse--

A tired, overworked jade.

He let it go with no remorse.

 

When villagers discovered that

The farmer's horse had been set free,

They wondered how the man would prosper.

The farmer succinctly said, "We'll see."

 

Days later the farmer's horse

Returned to the poor man's piece of land,

Bringing along several others,

Eager to give a helping hand.

 

The villagers heard the wonderful news

And rushed to share the farmer's glee.

"How fortunate you are!" they said.

The farmer merely replied, "We'll see."

 

The next day the villagers

Watched with ghastly fear in their faces

The son fall while training the horses

And break his leg in numerous places.

 

Lamenting the farmer's sad misfortune,

They asked how he would ever be

Able to work the land on his own.

The farmer again replied, "We'll see."

 

Soon a terrible war broke out.

The emperor needed able young men.

Because of his broken leg, the farmer's

Son was excused from duty. Again

 

The villagers went to the farmer, saying

"Your son escaped the emperor's decree.

How lucky for both of you!" The farmer

Responded by only saying, "We'll see."

 

Even though the son's leg healed,

The son walked with a definite limp.

Village children viciously teased him,

Calling him a klutz and a gimp.

 

The villagers came to see the farmer,

Their words of pity staggeringly

Effusive. "Aren't you sad?" they asked.

The farmer smiled and said, "We'll see."

 

The sons of the villagers died in the war.

The farmer, along with his only son,

Worked the land, grew quite wealthy,

And never complained to anyone.

 

Once in a while he'd meet his friends

And chat over a cup of tea.

"How lucky you are!" they'd say to him.

He'd shrug his shoulders and say, "We'll see."

 

(2-21-17)

*An old Chinese tale retold in verse