Below is an age-old tale retold.
There is a story to be told
One not often heard
Inconvenient to the ears
Of what became of the hare
Tabloids needing fodder
No front-page story here
For who could make a case
For one who lost the race
Slow and steady wins…
The tortoise beats the hare
The copy writer’s dream
Printed on many reams
Just keep going
Never stop or give up
A noble lesson indeed
Why spoil it with truth revealed
That is until one sunny day
Fate decided the time was now
For the missing piece to manifest
For the world to see the power of rest
The audacity of the tortoise
To dare challenge a hare
Who in their right mind would bet
That it would even be a contest?
Nothing to lose here
Let’s put this crazy idea to bed
That slow and steady trumps
Sheer pace and raw speed from the stumps
The long-awaited day tarried no longer
Excitement filled the air
Not much of a wink could I find
Buzzing way out of my mind
My patience waning as he slowly set
The race was on
I was off and hopping
So far ahead it made sense stopping
“Persistence and dedication reign”
Those were the tortoise’s words
Now ringing in my ear
Let’s see him win from way back there
Between us was clear daylight
Having the luxury of a snooze
So whacked from buzzing all night
Sure as day I would wake and still cruise
The palm trees for shade
Trees rustling, bees buzzing
Every chance I may be dreaming
Transported there by birds sweet singing
Drifting downstream, droopy-eyed
My path crossed with one old and wise
Poised, feet crossed the enchanting sage did sit
With a knowing smile, he asked, “who may you be?”
“I am hare on a quest to win”, answered I
“Win what” he inquired still
“A race against the slowest of the slows,
To earn my place as the fastest of them all” my reply
“Why such a venture”, he probed
“Cause that tortoise dared to challenge me,
As ridiculous as it gets against one as rapid as me?”
Parodying that motto “life is a marathon, not a sprint”
No match for me, can he ever be
Most surely the winners’ medal I will wear
To settle the matter fair and square
My fame spread abroad beyond compare
“Name for me the fastest panther, deer…
from yesteryears?”, the sage did enquire
My memory I searched but found no answers there
A question so designed that I consider my fare
Further, he pressed, “Where exactly will this end,
Today the tortoise, tomorrow a snake
Maybe even perchance a Zebra be next
Ever racing to prove you’re the best of the rest?”
There I was reflecting on my drive
Jumping from race to race was no way to thrive
Better to enjoy all the universe provides
Basking in the here and now with no more strife