The Lion and the Mouse A fable of Aesop, Copyright 2014

Once a  little mouse
Beheld a Lion sleeping
And so very softly
On tiptoe he came creeping

He kept some distance,

 for the great Lions snore

Was almost as frightening as his roar,

And then he did something brave
Or should we say  insane-
For the tiny  mouse grew bolder

And running up the Lions tail
Across his back and mane

Right up to his shoulder,
Then climbed back
down his leg
and jumped off of  his paw-

Just then the Lion woke
and caught the trespasser in his claws.

The little mouse he trembled
There was no way to be freed
From the might Lion's hold
 to regain his liberty

The little mouse he shivered
And his blood went cold
The awakened giant pussycat
Was a monster to behold,

The Lion frowned
Indeed he  scowled and
made a thunderous roar
Why did you tresspass Mr Mouse
What did you do that for ?

Now you have woken me

 from pleasant dreams

And I struggle so to sleep-

And the frightened little mouse
made many squeaks
and began to weep-

Please don't eat me Mr Lion,
Squeaked the rodent  with a cry
I do apologise  your majesty
I do not want to die-

I beg of you to spare my life
I most humbly pray-
and if you do
Then I'll come  back
 to save your life someday.

The Lion gave a hearty  laugh.
The trees shook, the and the earth rumbled
How will a tiny mouse like you
Save the great King of the Jungle?

But today since you've amused me so,
I am in a good mood, so I'll let you go.

The  lucky mouse
Ran to his house
To see his family
And to tell them all the story
Of how the Lion set him free

One day some hunters came
a looking
They were searching everywhere
And by chance they stumbled
Upon the Lions Lair
The Lion was not home that day
 So they set a huge rope snare.

The Lion he came home
that night
Looking forward to a nap-
He did not see the rope
And he was caught inside the trap

He cried he howled he could not get free-
The humungous Lion roared-
He struggled for his liberty
But alas the Jungle Lord
 Was firmly tied up in the ropes
all tangled in it's cords.

Far across the forest-The Lion`s might howls were heard

By the little mouse in his house
his sleep was much disturbed.

Mr Lion is  in trouble
I must go and keep my word.
The mouse ran to the Lions lair
And saw the Lion tangled in the rope
Mister Lion looked so scared
It seemed  he'd given up hope,

Have no fear your majesty
I am here to help my Lord
I know how to set you free
From these unkind  cords
He knew exactly what to do
At the  rope he nibbled and gnawed
Until  he'd bitten clean through

The Lion was so grateful
To finally be freed
When you need a friend
Then a friend in need
Is oft a friend indeed

 The lion turned
 to the mouse to say;
Forgive me Mr Mouse ,please I pray-
 "Dear friend, I was foolish
to ridicule you for being so small,
You kept your word
And you came back
 to  save me  after all!"