Aesop | Greece

The Heron and the Fish

A Heron catches small fish but waits for a bigger one, ultimately ending up hungry and empty-handed.

The Heron and the Fish
Text Version

Once upon a time, in a quiet pond surrounded by reeds and lush greenery, lived a Heron. The Heron was a proud and elegant bird, with long legs and a sharp beak that made it easy for him to catch fish. Every day, the Heron would stand in the shallow water, waiting patiently for its prey to swim by.

One day, as the Heron was waiting for his meal, a small fish swam past. The Heron quickly seized it with his beak, but upon closer inspection, he realized that the fish was very small and not worth eating. He released the fish back into the pond, thinking that a larger, more satisfying meal would soon come his way.

As the day went on, the Heron continued to wait, and another fish swam by. This fish was a bit bigger than the first, but still not large enough to satisfy the Heron's appetite. Once again, the Heron let the fish go, confident that an even bigger fish would come his way.

The sun began to set, and the Heron was growing increasingly hungry. Finally, a third fish appeared – the largest he had seen all day. Excitedly, the Heron prepared to strike, but just as he was about to catch the fish, it slipped through his beak and disappeared into the murky water.

Disappointed and hungry, the Heron realized that his day of waiting and searching for the perfect meal had left him with nothing to eat.

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The Heron and the Fish