The Faint-Hearted Hare (Aesop)

The morning sun revealed a haze,
Where goats did on a hillside graze.

And in the tall grass, slow did creep
The lion king, who soon would leap.

And on an unsuspecting goat
He pounced, and seized him by the throat.

The goat was strong and did resist,
As both the beasts did writhe and twist.

The lion did the battle win,
But goat-horns had pierced deep his skin.

In rage he acted on his scorn,
And banished ev’ry beast with horn.

Throughout his kingdom went decree;
“Within the day those beasts must flee!”

A hare that morning heard the news,
And wishing not his life to lose,

Inspected close his shadow tall
That now was cast upon a wall.

He hardly could believe his eyes –
Two horns seemed from his head to rise!

(And ‘though they only were his ears,
They conjured up his darkest fears.)

So thinking he might be destroyed,
H ran away to harm avoid.

---
Self-doubt and fear a soul will break.
And rob more than a thief can take.