The Fowler and The Viper
A Fowler chasing a bird stepped on a Viper, unaware of the danger beneath, ultimately falling into his own trap.
Audio available for B1 version
Once upon a time, there was a bird catcher.
One sunny morning, he took his sticky paste and long sticks, ready to catch some birds.
He saw a small bird, a thrush, sitting high in a tree.
He wanted to catch it, so he carefully prepared his sticks and watched the bird closely.
He was so focused on the thrush in the tree that he didn't look where he was walking.
Without knowing it, he stepped on a sleeping snake.
The snake woke up, surprised and angry.
To protect itself, it quickly bit the bird catcher's foot.
The man fell to the ground, feeling dizzy and weak.
As he lay there, he thought, "Oh no!
I was so busy trying to catch a bird that I didn't see the danger right under my feet."
In the end, the bird catcher realized that while trying to trap a bird, he had walked into a trap himself.
Once upon a time, there was a Fowler. One sunny morning, he picked up his sticky paste and slender sticks, ready to catch some birds. He saw a little bird, a thrush, sitting high on a tree. He wanted to catch it, so he carefully shaped his sticks to the right length and watched it closely. He was so focused on the thrush in the tree that he didn't watch where he was stepping.
Without even knowing it, he stepped on a sleeping Viper. The Viper woke up, surprised and upset. To protect itself, it quickly bit the Fowler's foot. The man tumbled over, feeling dizzy and faint. As he lay on the ground, he thought to himself, "Oh no! I was so busy trying to catch a bird, I didn't see the danger right under my feet."
And so, it turned out that in his attempt to trap a bird, the Fowler had unknowingly walked into a trap himself.
Once upon a time, in a really fun forest, there was this guy named Fowler. He was kinda like a bird-catcher, alright? This sunny morning, he's out there with some sticks and super-sticky paste that's kinda like slime. He was singing and so excited to catch a little bird called a thrush that was sitting way up in a tree like it was the king of the world!
"Hey, Mr. Birdy," Fowler said, licking his lips, "you're gonna be my new buddy!"
Fowler had these sticks all set up like building blocks, and the paste was ready to go. "Time to get sticky and tricky!" he yelled.
He was so busy looking at that bird up in the tree that he didn't look at where he was putting his feet. And guess what he stepped on? A snake that was taking a nap!
"Hey, you! Watch out!" yelled the snake, waking up super-fast. "I'm not a doormat, you know!"
The snake, feeling kinda mad, bit Fowler's foot really quick. "That'll teach you!"
"Ouchie!" Fowler yelled, falling over like he slipped on a banana peel. "That was a surprise bite!"
As he lay there, kinda dizzy, Fowler thought, "Oh man, I was so busy looking at the bird up there that I didn't see the snake down here!"
So, there he was, flat on the ground, thinking about how he got into this mess. And you know what happened next? The little bird up in the tree said, "Better luck next time!" and flew away, singing like he just won a game.
And that's how Fowler, who wanted to trap a bird, got himself in a big, silly trap instead.
There once was a fellow so keen,
With sticky paste and sticks, not mean.
He spied a bird up in a tree,
"Aha," he thought, "you'll come with me!"
His eye on feathers, beak, and crest,
He didn't see what lay at rest.
He stepped without a single peep,
On something that was fast asleep.
Awake it sprung, with scales and bite,
A Viper stirred, ready to fight.
It nipped the man upon his toe,
And down he fell, his face all woe.
He lay there, dizzy on the grass,
A lesson learned, alas, alas.
While dreaming of a catch so neat,
He missed the danger at his feet.
The Fowler sighed, a lesson learned,
From his mistake, this wisdom earned:
While eyes are set on skies so blue,
Ground's just as important too!
Word Finder
Fowler
Someone who catches birds using traps.Paste
A thick, sticky substance used to make things stick.Thrush
A type of small bird that sings beautifully.Sticky
Something that holds things together when touched.Tricky
Something difficult or sneaky to figure out.Snake
A long, slithering reptile without legs.Doormat
A small rug placed by a door for wiping feet.Bit
To use teeth to cut or hurt something.Dizzy
Feeling like you're spinning or might fall over.Trap
A device used to catch animals or people.
Fellow
A person, usually a man or boy.Keen
Very eager and interested in something.Spied
Saw or noticed something secretly or unexpectedly.Crest
The top feathers on a bird’s head.Peep
A small, quiet sound, usually made by a bird or person.Viper
A poisonous snake that can bite.Nipped
Bit something lightly or quickly.Woe
Great sadness or trouble.Alas
A word showing sadness or regret.Fowler
A person who catches birds for a living.
Reflection Questions
- Why do you think the Fowler was so focused on the thrush that he didn't notice the Viper?
- How do you think the Fowler felt when he realized he had stepped on a Viper?
- Can you remember a time when being too focused on one thing made you overlook something else important?
- What does this story teach us about the importance of being aware of our surroundings?
- How can we use this story's lesson in our everyday lives to make sure we're not missing something important?
Fable Quotes
Haste may lead to unseen risks; patience is a virtue that persists.
Beware the thrill of pursuit, for in our recklessness, caution's absence paves the path to our downfall.
Every step we take may lead to unexpected outcomes; watch where you tread.
Just One More Fable
- Greed
- Wisdom
The Penny Wise Monkey
A wise King's desire for adventure led him to witness a greedy monkey's loss, teaching him to appreciate what he already had in his kingdom.
- Authenticity
- Wisdom
The Donkey in The Lion's Skin
A Donkey wears a Lion's skin to scare other animals but is exposed when he brays, feeling ashamed and embarrassed.
- Ignorance
- Patience
The Tortoise And The Geese
Geese help tortoise move to new lake, but he dies after opening his mouth trying to respond to children's insults.
- Value
- Appreciation
The River Fish and The Sea Fish
A river fish boasted about his superiority to sea fish, but in the end, it was their market value that determined their worth.