Aesop
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Greece

The Lion and The Hare

A Lion leaves a Hare for a better meal but fails and returns to find Hare gone.
Greed
Contentment
Wisdom
Aesop's Fables - The Lion and The Hare
Audio available for B1 version

Once upon a time, a Lion came across a Hare that was sleeping peacefully in a field. The Lion was overjoyed at the prospect of having a tasty meal, so he crouched down and prepared to pounce on the Hare.

Just as the Lion was about to grab the Hare, he heard a noise and looked up to see a fine young Hart trotting by. The Lion was distracted by the sight of the Hart and decided to leave the Hare and follow the Hart instead.

The Hare, awakened by the noise, quickly realized that the Lion had left and scurried away as fast as she could. The Lion chased the Hart for a long time, but he was unable to catch him. Eventually, the Lion gave up and returned to where he had left the Hare.

However, when the Lion arrived, he found that the Hare had also run off. The Lion was disappointed and frustrated that he had let go of the sure thing - the Hare - in search of something better.

And so, the Lion was left hungry and empty-handed.

Once upon a time, in a field that seemed straight out of a Saturday morning cartoon, a Lion spotted a Hare napping away, looking like she'd just played all day long without a break. The Lion, imagining himself as the star chef of a jungle cooking show, thought, "Mmm! Snack time!"

Trying his best to be sneaky, the Lion tiptoed like he was in a playful game of hide and seek, ready to surprise the dozing Hare. But hold on a second! *Dramatic music* A flashy young Hart danced by, looking like he was the coolest kid at the playground. Lion's eyes lit up like birthday candles. "Whoa! That's not just a snack, that's a feast!"

Suddenly forgetting all about the Hare, Lion thought, "You wait here, Hare! I’ve got bigger fries to catch," and dashed after the fabulous Hart.

Meanwhile, Hare woke up, stretching and yawning. "Hmm, where did the scary shadow go? Wasn't someone trying to play tag with me?"

Seeing the coast was clear, she giggled, "Phew! Safe at last! Time to find a better hiding spot. Maybe one without big, hungry cats!"

Lion chased and chased, trying to tag the Hart. But, the Hart was just too fast, like the toy that’s always just out of reach no matter how much you stretch your arms. Tired and a bit mopey, Lion came back to where he'd left the Hare, hoping she might be there, maybe drawing pictures in the dirt? But, no luck. Hare had hopped off, leaving Lion with a growling tummy and a missed playtime.

"Aw, did she go off to another playdate without me?" Lion grumbled, realizing that sometimes, the fun is right under your nose, but you miss it chasing bigger dreams.

And there he was, the mighty Lion, left feeling a little silly and very hungry. The games of the jungle sure can be tricky!

Upon a sunny meadow's grace,
A Hare lay still, a tranquil place.
A Lion's eyes, so fierce and keen,
Spied the Hare, where she'd been unseen.

His mouth watered, thoughts of feast,
Quietly he neared, to say the least.
But just as he prepared to dine,
A Hart appeared, sleek and fine.

Drawn to the Hart, with hopes anew,
The Lion left the Hare to pursue.
The Hare woke up, sensed the shift,
And hurried away, in a jiff.

Through fields and woods, the Lion did chase,
But the Hart was quick, a rapid pace.
Weary and tired, the Lion ceased,
Hoping the Hare would be his feast.

Back to the meadow, with hope in sight,
The Hare was gone, nowhere in light.
He'd lost them both, Hart and Hare,
A lesson learned of being aware.

For sometimes what’s sure, we might let slip,
Chasing dreams, we lose our grip.

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Reflection Questions

  1. Why do you think the Lion decided to leave the Hare and chase after the Hart?
  2. How do you think the Lion felt when he couldn't catch the Hart and found the Hare had also run off?
  3. Can you think of a time when you or someone else tried to get something better and ended up losing what you already had?
  4. What does this story teach us about being satisfied with what we have and not being greedy?
  5. How can we use the lesson from this story in our own lives to appreciate what we have instead of always seeking something better?

Fable Quotes

Chasing more, we often lose what's already in our paw.
Embrace what is certain; the unknown may bring famine.
In desire for the new, don't let go of the sure.
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