Song of the Grasshopper (Aesop)

The tiny ant did march away
Much of the night, and all the day.

In spring and summer and the fall,
He answered brave to duty’s call.

Searching food, both far and near;
Never a cry, never a tear.

Hefting morsels larger than he –
Carrying back to colony.

And while the ant did hike along
The grasshopper would sing a song.

On summer days he’d play and dance.
Future’s destiny left to chance.

Both care and worry he did spurn.
And storing food was no concern.

On he sang his melody still,
As autumn closed with frost and chill.

Winter brought its sleet and snows.
Crops were covered, water froze.

Now begging help and charity,
The grasshopper did humbly plea:

“Without some food I’ll surely die!”
The ant would offer no reply.

“Next year, my ways of idle end!”
The ant, however, did not bend.

The grasshopper did not survive.
The ant through winter stayed alive.

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Diligence often returns with a gain,
While laziness likely will only bring pain.

Photo Credit: Martin Kessel