A Missed Meal (Aesop)

A lion found a sleeping hare.
And with the prey quite cornered there,

The great cat hungry now did feel,
And thought to have it for a meal.

But as his claw was set to wield,
He saw a deer out in the field.

The hare still in his sleep did sprawl,
Yet through the grass the cat did crawl.

Approaching now in speed and stealth,
He’d feast upon his new found wealth.

But as the lion close did creep,
The deer jumped clear with mighty leap.

The lion ran, fast as he could -
The deer, more swift, ran through the wood.

The losing race that then ensued
Did leave the lion with no food.

Defeated he returned to where
He left in peace the sleeping hare.

But in the leaves, there on the ground,
The dozing hare could not be found.

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Pursuing further wealth and greed,
You may lose what you have and need.

(Index references: Oxford-Gibbs 286, Perry 148)