The frogs were living happy as could be
In a wet marsh to which they all were suited;
From every sort of trouble they were free,
And all night long they croaked, and honked, and hooted.
But one fine day a bull-frog said, “The thing
We never had and must have is a king!”
So all the frogs immediately prayed;
“Great Jove,” they chorused from their swampy border,
“Send us a king and he will be obeyed,
A king to bring a rule of Law and Order.”
Jove heard and chuckled. That night in the bog
There fell a long and most impressive Log.
The swamp was silent; nothing breathed. At first
The badly frightened frogs did never once stir;
But gradually some neared and even durst
To touch, aye, even dance upon, the monster.
Whereat they croaked again, “Great Jove, oh hear!
Send us a living king, a king to fear!”
Once more Jove smiled, and sent them down a Stork.
“Long live—!” they croaked. But ere they framed the sentence,
The Stork bent down and, scorning knife or fork,
Swallowed them all, with no time for repentance!
THE MORAL’S this: No matter what your lot,
It might be worse. Be glad with what you’ve got.