1982
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.