Ant and the Cricket!

Well I am not so sure as to when we learnt this poem, I guess it was in our 6th or 7th standard.
We used to by heart these poems without understanding their meanings. If we didn't get it then we would even write and practice it 2 or 3 times and hence somehow manage to score the marks.
But when I was by hearting this poem, my brother asked me as to what I am doing. I replied " Poem by heart madtha idini". He replied "neenu orru hoditha idiya. Poem meaning artha madko first. Aage nin heart inda baruthe, aaga by heart a athava by mind a anta decide madko..." I was wondering what he was telling.
Then i sat down to analyze the meaning of this poem and believe it or not, till date I can remember the meaning, the poem and the value I have learnt from the poem.
This poem marks the hard working and humble nature of the ant and the lazy and careless attitude of the cricket.
I don't remember the author of this poem, I think it is from the Aesop's fables.


I have downloaded the images from Google!

The Ant And The Cricket

Anonymous

A silly young cricket, accustomed to sing

Through the warm, sunny months of gay summer and spring,

Began to complain, when he found that at home

His cupboard was empty and winter was come.

        Not a crumb to be found

        On the snow-covered ground;

        Not a flower could he see,

        Not a leaf on a tree.

“Oh, what will become,” says the cricket, “of me?”

At last by starvation and famine made bold,

All dripping with wet and all trembling with cold,

Away he set off to a miserly ant

To see if, to keep him alive, he would grant

        Him shelter from rain.

        A mouthful of grain

        He wished only to borrow,

        He’d repay it to-morrow;

If not helped, he must die of starvation and sorrow.

Says the ant to the cricket: “I’m your servant and friend,

But we ants never borrow, we ants never lend.

Please tell me, dear sir, did you lay nothing by

When the weather was warm?” Said the cricket, “Not I.

       My heart was so light

       That I sang day and night,

       For all nature looked gay.”

       “You sang, sir, you say?

Go then,” said the ant, “and dance winter away.”

Thus ending, he hastily lifted the wicket

And out of the door turned the poor little cricket.

Though this is a fable, the moral is good—

If you live without work, you must live without food.