A frog is granted an audience with Zeus.
Zeus: Oh, it’s you again
Frog: Not me, your magnificence, that was my great grandfather.
Zeus: (thinks) They all look alike
And yet, here you are.
Frog: Here I am
Zeus: And the reason for this. . . interruption?
Frog: It’s about our King
Zeus: Your king, what about him, has he been behaving badly?
Frog: No, your wondrousness.
Zeus: So, you’re here to say he’s doing well?
Frog: Not exactly, your malign bigness.
Zeus: Not exactly, I hear the echo of a complaint on your lips.
Frog: He’s neither good, nor bad. In fact, he does very little. Sits at the edge of the pool contemplating nothing in particular, sinking slowly into the mud while we manage his realm.
Zeus: And yet you still complain. I can recall what your great grandfather asked of me. Send us a king worthy of the frog pool. A king who is firm, stout, never raises his voice and is slow to anger. A king of robust personality, fair of mind and sound judgement.
Frog: Yes, yes, your God Head, he is all those things, but…
Zeus: But?
Frog: He may as well not be there for all the good he does. We need a king that commands respect, never falters, inspires courage and strikes fear into our enemies. He needs to be exacting, clever and ruthless.
Zeus: Ruthless you say, are you sure about that?
Very well, I have heard your plea, though it doth anger me that you have spurned my benevolent gift of stewardship. Release the king to the centre of the pool and there, let him sink without trace. Before the next moon you shall have a new king.
Just before the dawn, at the turn of the new moon a beautiful Heron picked its way through the reed beds looking for the frog pool. It stood at the water’s edge looking at the multitude of frogs clamouring to get a better view of their new king.
He was very hungry.
Not an original story, an adaptation of something I read many years ago.
It sort of sums up the transition of President Biden to President Trump, and the warning of - be careful of what you wish for.