Walking along a dusty road
In the heat of a summer's day,
Two weary travelers looked for a place
To rest along the way.

They wanted to find shelter from
The fiery rays of the sun.
One said, "Look! I see a place."
The other said, "Well done!"

They sauntered to spot nearby
Where a plane tree stood,
And plopped down on the ground below.
Ah, the shade felt good!

While lying there, one of the travelers
Looked up at the tree,
And said to the other, "This tree is quite
Useless. Don't you agree?

"It drops its leaves and produces no fruit.
Although it stands so tall,
It basically doesn't perform any
Service to mankind at all."

"You ungrateful person!," cried
The plane tree full of rage.
"How dare you be so insolent
With somebody my age!

"Here I stand protecting you
From the scorching rays
Emitted by the sun and yet
I get no word of praise.

"You enjoy my cool shade
And find relief therefrom
And then go on to say that I'm
A good-for-nothing ***."

Ah, the poor tree learned that human
Beings can be rude,
When they upon receiving kindness
Display ingratitude.

-by Bob B (8-24-21)

°An Aesop fable, "The Travelers and the Plane Tree," retold here in verse