The Tortoise and The Hare

Running is no earthly use,
this tale will clearly show.
Unless you’re up and leave on time
and have the oomph to go!

Miss Tortoise and our Mr Hare
once set out on a race.
“I think I’ll win,” Miss Tortoise said
I think I’ll get first place.”

“You’re barking mad,” said Mr Hare.
“Dear girl, you must be ill.
If you’re unwell, just think a bit
you’d better take a pill.”

“Mad or not, I’ll have my bet,”
Miss Tortoise stamped her paw.
“OK, OK,” said Mr Hare,
“but I’ll get there before.”

Our Hare stretched out and dozed a bit.
Our Tortoise plodded past.
“I’ll eat and whistle down the wind,”
Hare said, “I won’t be last.”

Our Tortoise, stately, plodded on.
She hurried but was slow.
Such work for her it was this race,
the goal was far to go.

Our snooty hare’s pride, self-regard,
caused him to dawdle long.
A pity, for he left too late:
he simply got it wrong.

Aghast, he saw the very end,
Miss Tortoise almost there,
nearly at the winning post
the Tortoise, not the Hare!

Miss Tortoise cried, “I got there first
even with my shell.
It’s heavy, but your speed’s no use.
I can run just as well!”

This is an old story, first written by Aesop, and then by La Fontaine. I have adapted it, in verse, in English.

If you would like to listen to the audio, – copyright to me -, press here
https://charlotteswonderfulstories.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/the-tortoise-and-the-hare.mp3

I hope you enjoy it…and that you’ll be here next month for my mid-winter story.

Good luck, and good health to us all,

Charlotte Sebag-Montefiore