A Buddhist Fable
Once a cunning old woman was out and about,
nosing in things she did not understand,
when she was attacked by a mighty bear
and fled up a tree.
The bear with his claws reached 'round a fork
just below her, and with a swift, cunning hand,
she grabbed both its paws and held them there;
it could not reach her, nor flee.
Along came a man, a simple lout,
afraid of the beast, and she said to him,
"Help, and together we will kill this bear,
and both be free."
And he grabbed the bear;
and she ran away;
and no longer alive was he.
