The Bullfrog and the Elephant

Said the bullfrog to the elephant: "I wish I were as large

as you are, mighty pachyderm -- so that I could be in charge!"

The elephant looked down upon the bullfrog with disdain.

"It takes more than just size" he said "to truly rule and reign."

"Patience and forbearance, plus a healthy grain of salt,

are needed to see others as an asset not a fault."

"I may be big and massive, but that don't give me the right

to tyrannize all others who are smaller in my sight."

So saying, Mr. Elephant trudged off o'er dusky veld

while scheming Mr. Bullfrog his ambition was not quelled.

(And if you think this fable has contemporary feel,

I won't deny it could refer to some big blonde schlemiel.)

That bullfrog wanted really bad to show who wears the pants,

and so he hopped on over to a hill of fire ants.

"Obey me!" he cried shrilly, as he glowered at their heap;

the ants began to sting him til away he had to creep.

After he recovered from their stings he tried to force

his will upon some grasshoppers feeding on rough gorse.

He threatened to devour them if they did not obey;

they spit dark brown tobacco juice all over him in play.

Beside himself with anger, that old frog called on the mice

to give him their obeisance -- but they answered back "No dice!"

To the pond where he was born at last he went in shame,

where tadpoles of his vast pretensions made a merry game.

Stooping in the muck and mire, feeling far from spry,

that bullfrog didn't have the pep to nab a passing fly.

Sobbing in frustration, he began to gulp down air --

and suddenly began to grow in size, all unaware . . . 

Until a soft shelled turtle who was sunning on a log

exclaimed in wonder "Lookee there; the king of this here bog!"

Heedless of the consequence, the bullfrog pulled in more

air until he looked a bit like some small dinosaur.

"Ha ha!" he rumbled as he grew, "At last I am the King!"

He squashed all opposition as his flippers he did fling.

Bigger, and then bigger still, he grew with keen inflation,

lording over slugs and snails and even tough crustacean.

But such a bloated eminence he couldn't long sustain.

He finally exploded with a roar of grief and pain.

The elephant meandered by that pond soon after, saying

"Hot air is not the way to reign -- it keeps no rulers staying."