Flattery Might Get One Somewhere

A crow sat on a tree branch holding

A chunk of cheese in her beak.

On top of the world was she. She thought,

"What a lucky streak!"

 

On seeing her, a fox decided

To use his expertise

To find a way to take from her

That scrumptious chunk of cheese.

 

Standing under the tree he said,

"Such a noble bird

Is almost indescribable.

It would be absurd

 

"To come up with appropriate terms

To celebrate your beauty.

But if I didn't try, I fear

'Twould be a breach of duty.

 

"So here's my attempt: Noble One,

Never have I seen

A more exquisite sight. Of all

The birds you are the queen!

 

"I'm trying to imagine how

Much pleasure it would bring

Us all to hear your gorgeous voice.

Noble Lady, sing!"

 

Flattered by the fox's speech,

The crow let out a caw

And dropped the cheese onto the ground.

The hungry fox cried, "Ha!"

 

And gobbled up the cheese at once.

"Perhaps your counterparts,

Would concur: you've got a voice,

But what you lack is smarts."

 

The moral is that flatterers

Will tell you what's untrue;

There might be a winner, but

The winner won't be you.

 

Sometimes even presidents

Can't seem to detect

The crucial differences between

Flattery and respect.

 

(11-19-17) By Bob B

*An Aesop fable retold here in verse