SOP’S FABLES

“You can be anything
you want to be,”
the robin told the skunk,
“If you try hard enough,
with enough enthusiasm,
you can become what you want.”
The skunk was impressed
and acted on avian advice.

He tried his hand at scriptwriting
but found the money men
wouldn’t offer him the budgets his productions needed
so he went into short stories
and then limericks.
He went through his nest egg
pretty quickly.

After that
he opted to enter the aromatherapy field
with his own unique scent
he thought he’d be a lock
as a consultant
but the big centers wouldn’t let
the little skunk through the door
and he wasn’t comfortable
with starting his own practice.

Times were getting tight for Lil’ Skunkie
who was getting anxious over impending winter
with a Con Ed that was promising record rate hikes.
He wondered if there was any future
in bird watching,
and opted to try his paw at it.
It paid about what you’d expect.

One day, he ran into the robin,
rocking back and forth on a branch.
“I’ve taken your advice to heart,” said the skunk.
“Well? How’d it go? Have you become
everything you’ve ever wanted?”
“Not yet, but I expect to do well
in my next venture.”
“Great. What’re you up to?”
“I’ve entered the feather business,”
the skunk said,
a particular look in his eye,
“I expect to make a killing.”