Yet more fables for early spring: renewing energy in self and in nature.

The fox’s garden

A fox sat staring out a window at his garden. If only the rabbits would come and eat the flowers, he thought. Moral: don’t cultivate beauty in order to feed your belly.

Two rabbits

Two rabbits jumped over the wall and sat amid the flowers. A hawk swooped down and caught one in his talons. The other thought, I’m glad I cam with him today. But he was eaten by the fox. Moral: don’t think a friend’s misfortune as your good luck.

The beavers and their tower

Two beavers began constructing a tower to survey the construction of a new dam on the stream. They became so delighted in its design that they neglected the dam, and after a hard rain the stream swept away their tower.

The ugly tree

The misshapen tree served no purpose to the foresters, who cut down its neighbors for lumber. But children and sages delighted to play in its shade.

The archer and the peddler

The archer grew proud of his skill and became a favorite of the king. But when he saw an old peddler dispense oil into a small vase without spilling a drop, he vanished from the court. Adapted from a Chinese legend.

The plague and the city

Recovering from the plague, the city was quiet. Two pigeons remarked to one another: the people seem morose, and younger.

For earlier fables, see here.