A Slight Revision To Aesop's Tale

An arrogant hare challenged a lethargic turtle to a race. The hare ridiculed the turtle due to its lumbering pace. "The loser", declared the hare " will be destined for the pot!" The "hare"-brained turtle agreed knowing he didn't have a shot! The turtle desperately tried to figure a way not to become the dupe, And end his long and illustrious life as a repast of turtle soup! They began the race and the hopping hare surged way ahead. The ponderous turtle trailed behind with a growing sense of dread! O'er the meadows and through the piney woods they raced. The turtle could readily see that he was being outpaced! "Fiddle faddle!" wheezed the hare "I'm gonna stop and take a nap!" The turtle trundled steadily onward and quickly closed the gap! When the hare awoke the turtle had crossed the finish line! "Aha!" quoth the turtle, "it won't be me on which they dine!" The bewildered hare was stewed and made a fine rarebit stew, Making a tasty meal upon which the turtle could leisurely chew! The moral of this tale is one that is echoed from the past: "The last shall be first and the first shall be last!" Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired © All Rights Reserved Placed No. 1 in Poet Destroyer's "Turtle Soup" Contest - August 2010