Grasping Victory (Aesop)

A little tortoise made her way
Along a path, one summer day.

Inside she felt a little dread –
An eagle circled overhead.

And soon, the eagle from the sky
With talons sharp came swooping by.

Her fears she then did realize
As she was lifted in the skies.

The tortoise did not lose her cool,
And said “great eagle, you’re no fool.

I’m very small and hard to eat -
I’ll guide you to a tasty treat.

The eagle to the plan agreed,
And to the tortoise he did heed.

Along the river they did fly,
Until a grove of trees came by.

And underneath the leafy stand
They found a place where they could land,

Beside a clear and tranquil pond,
Where fish for many years had spawned.

The eagle picked them out with ease
And ate his fill beneath the trees.

The tortoise with relief did sigh,
And nibbled on the plants nearby,

Expecting that this time of day
A bear might happen by this way.

Then, as she thought, the bear came by
And found the bird too fat to fly.

The bear enjoyed an eagle dish,
Before a second course of fish.

The eagle swift was thus undone
By tortoise, far too slow to run.

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Both the mighty and the fleet,
May with trickery be beat.