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| Flickr Creative Commons Photo by James Havard |
Fable
by Ralph Waldo Emerson
The mountain and the squirrel
Had a quarrel;
And the former called the latter ‘Little Prig.’
Bun replied,
‘You are doubtless very big;
But all sorts of things and weather
Must be taken in together,
To make up a year
And a sphere.
And I think it no disgrace
To occupy my place.
If I’m not so large as you,
You are not so small as I,
And not half so spry.
I’ll not deny you make
A very pretty squirrel track;
Talents differ;
all is well and wisely put;
If I cannot carry forests on my back,
Neither can you crack a nut.’
Laura has the Poetry Friday Roundup this week at Writing the World for Kids.
"But all sorts of things and weather..." This is a wonderful poem to share with students, funny yet profound.
ReplyDeleteYou've got me thinking about how we carry forests on our backs... thank you! xo
ReplyDeleteI love that picture, too, Mary Lee, and the poem helps us know a way to look at others in our lives. Wise Emerson!
ReplyDeleteThree cheers for a thoughtful squirrel! Happy Friday!
ReplyDeleteHow does one carry a forrest on her back? What a remarkable image. I wonder who was in his mind as he was writing this.
ReplyDeleteThe mountain carries the forest on its back. Isn't that a wonderful image?
DeleteSuch a charming poem (and I love the photo!).
ReplyDeleteI love the ending, especially. Those last four lines. Yes.
ReplyDeleteA great tale to remind us to look at each others' talents and be positive. The photo is adorable.
ReplyDeleteNeither can you crack a nut.’
ReplyDeleteI had forgotten about this poem - thanks for sharing it! "Neither can you crack a nut"...priceless.
So much wisdom in this poem! "Talents differ;
ReplyDeleteall is well and wisely put" indeed! Thanks for sharing this, Mary Lee.
Oh that last line! Such a fun line for a serious poet. I have many gaps in my poetry background....so I don't know this one. Thanks for being my teacher today!
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous poem to remind us that we all have a place here. We all have our individual talents and skills. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWe each have our space and our talents to share! Love this poetic reminder.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of the fish in a tree quote. It's another great reminder that we all have our own talents--from carrying trees to cracking nuts!
ReplyDeleteToo bad us human-types can't listen and learn as well as these two... and we're all the same species!
ReplyDeleteTelling little squirrel he is, lovely Emerson poem Mary Lee–and that photo is sweet as can be, thanks!
ReplyDeleteA wonderful poem. Great voice in it. It's important to remember voice in poetry.
ReplyDelete