The Tiger And The Ant

The tiger and a tiny ant

Sat side by side one day.

Each was lost in his own thoughts

As they traveled on their way.

The sun was high up in the sky;

The lake nearby was still.

The ant was thinking of work to be done,

The tiger- of his last kill.

And though they sat close- side by side,

Their moods were not the same.

And thus each pair of eyes that looked

Saw different parts of the game.

The ant thought, “Oh how beautiful

And warm the sun can be,

As I rest my weary body

Near the banks of this large sea.

What a day this is! What a wondrous time

To sit above the ground!

I will bask in all its beauty

Before I return to the mound.”

The tiger was not so happy.

He growled, he grunted, and roared.

It was still too hot to go hunting

And he was getting bored.

“How miserable this day is!

Too hot and there’s no wind

To tell me where the game is-

Not even where it’s been!”

And though they sat there side by side

At the same time and place,

Their eyes did not perceive their world

As though it had one face.

There’s a lesson to learn from the tiger and ant

As you travel on your way

It’s only your perspective

That puts color on your day.