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Aesop’s timeless tales

of outfoxed foxes, hapless lions, frisky donkeys, mutinous rabbits, wise insects, exasperated goddesses, and bewildered mortals are brought to new and vivid life in this collection of 100 sonnets by Judith Goldhaber, with 100 watercolor illustrations by Gerson Goldhaber. The fables range from the familiar “The Fox and the Grapes” to the lesser-known “The Swan and the Goose” ; from the outright funny “The Stag and the Vine" to the touching “The Lark Burying Her Father" ; from the completely silly “The Wolf and the Crane" to the deadly serious “The Lion and the Boar”. Every generation needs to rediscover Aesop; here’s a charming and readable delight for adults and children alike, equally suitable for coffee-table browsing or, as Aesop’s Gluttonous Fox might prefer, devouring in one big gulp.

“To all readers, young and old, I commend these graceful and witty renditions of Aesop by Judith Goldhaber. And equally I recommend the playfully saturated, wry illustrations that accompany them. The only sour grapes for a reader will come if he or she leaves the book on the shelf!” —Roger Lathbury, author, Publisher, Orchises Press; Professor of English, George Mason University.

“What more could Aesop have wished than to address the 21st century in these dry, whimsical sonnets complemented by a series of soft, edgy watercolors? This beautifully produced book is a rare treat.” —Annie Finch, poet, Calendars (shortlisted for the Foreword Poetry Book of the Year Award), The Encyclopedia of Scotland, and Director, Stonecoast Low-Residency MFA, University of Southern Maine.

THE ASS AND THE MULE

A certain Mule, half-brother to an Ass,

resented that his mom, a high-born horse,

had practiced unprotected intercourse

with a male donkey. One day it came to pass

both beasts were carrying a load of brass

and silver chatchkas from their master’s store

up a steep mountain “This burden is much more

than I can bear,” the donkey cried, “Alas!

Brother! Please help me with this heavy weight.”

“Forget it,” said the Mule, “your bro I ain’t!”

But when the poor beast fell down in a faint

his master slung the donkey AND his freight

on the Mule’s back — a heavy load indeed.

He should have helped his brother in his need!

SONNETS FROM AESOP

Published by

Ribbonweed Press

1022 Euclid Avenue

Berkeley, CA 94708

www.sonnetsfromaesop.com

judithg70@hotmail.com

Sonnets from Aesop

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means including electronic, mechanical or photocopying or stored in a retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages to be included in a review.

ISBN 0-9761554-0-0

Library of Congress Control Number: 2004097118

Cover art: Gerson Goldhaber

Cover design: Dianna LaFerry

HERCULES AND ATHENA

Driving his chariot on a narrow road

Hercules was threatened by a beast

that reared its head as if to make a feast

of him. Undaunted, the intrepid hero strode

ahead, and struck the creature with his goad.

Instead of slinking off, the thing increased

ten times in size, until it filled at least

half of the highway. Then Athena showed

herself upon the scene. “O, stop your blows

dear Hercules, put down your sword and knife!

They do no good! This monster’s name is Strife!

It feeds on conflict, so do not oppose

its strength by force of arms. Leave it alone

and it will fade away all on its own.”

TO PURCHASE THIS BOOK, CLICK ON PAYPAL "BUY NOW" LINK ABOVE, OR SEND CHECK FOR $16.50 ($14.95 + $1.55 SHIPPING AND HANDLING) TO:

Ribbonweed Press

1022 Euclid Avenue

Berkeley CA 94708

SONNETS FROM AESOP has been honored with an IPPY (Independent Publisher Book Award) as one of the ten “Outstanding Books of the Year” published by an independent press in 2005.