The Boy Who Cried Wolf

A shepherd boy watched sheep on a hill, Days were long and sometimes still. He sat alone beneath the sun, Watching grass with nothing done.

"This job is boring," the boy did say, "Nothing moves out here all day." An idea sparkled in his eye, "I'll have some fun and tell a lie!"

"Wolf! Wolf!" he cried one sunny day, Though no wolf had come that way. His voice rang out across the land, The sheep grazed on without command.

Villagers came with sticks and shouts, Running fast with worried pouts. They looked around with fear and care, But found no wolf was anywhere.

"No wolf here," they said with a sigh, "Please don't raise a false cry. We left our work, our shops, our trade, To help you, but we were betrayed."

The boy just giggled at his prank, And all the villagers turned and sank Back down the hill with heavy feet, Returning to their village street.

Bored again on another day, "Wolf! Wolf!" the boy did say. Again they came, again no beast, Their trust in him had now decreased.

"We need watchers," the village agreed, "To check each call with careful heed. We'll still come help, but we must know, That what he says is really so."

Then a real wolf, fierce and gray, Came prowling on a cloudy day. The boy called out without delay, "Wolf! Wolf! Please help me, I pray!"

Watchers checked and raised alarm, Village rescued all from harm! They worked together, fast and bright, And kept the sheep through every night.

A boy on a hill. A village below. Two false calls — and the trust runs low. A real wolf came. The watchers came too — Two voices proved what one voice tried to do.