6 Significant Fable Poems

Fable poems weave together narrative verse and moral lessons. Rooted in the tradition of Aesop’s Fables, these poems typically feature animals or inanimate objects as characters, representing human virtues or vices.

The narrative is designed to lead to a moral conclusion, providing insightful commentary on human nature or societal norms. Fable poetry engages readers with its storytelling while encouraging introspection and ethical consideration.

The strength of a fable poem lies in its ability to disguise life’s lessons in a simple and engaging narrative, making complex concepts more digestible and appealing, particularly for younger readers.

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Tractor

by Ted Hughes

‘Tractor’ by Ted Hughes is a powerful poem that represents and narrates the fight and victory of machinery with rich assertion and proper lexical equipment used.

Exploring this poem, it is possible to consider the aspects of the fable genre and the presence of moral values in the text. This poem submits the inability of trying to start the stiffened machine as an allegory to people’s stations in life as well as their endeavor entrusting a contraption they cannot even start, a prime explanation for disasters brought about by human arrogance. The tractor’s rebellion and its victory may have some meaning in expounding issues of human nature and specific encounters with hardships.

The tractor stands frozen - an agony

To think of. All night

Snow packed its open entrails. Now a head-pincering gale,

A spill of molten ice, smoking snow

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The Camel’s Hump

by Rudyard Kipling

Rudyard Kipling’s ‘The Camel’s Hump’ is a fun poem on the repercussions of lethargy and inactivity. Humorously, we may grow a “Cameelious hump” if we feel like “we haven’t enough to do.”

In 'The Camel's Hump,' the story follows a camel that, through its laziness, ends up with a hump. The poem uses this tale to deliver a moral lesson about the consequences of not putting in effort. By using animals to convey its message, the poem makes the lesson clear and accessible to readers of all ages.

The Camel's hump is an ugly lump

Which well you may see at the Zoo;

But uglier yet is the hump we get

From having too little to do.

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Envy

by Mary Lamb

By utilizing different types of flowers, Lamb’s ‘Envy’ showcases that envy is an unnecessary quality to possess.

The poem uses flowers as characters to gently teach a lesson about being content with who you are. Although there are no talking animals or fairy tale settings, the message is just as strong as that of a traditional fable. By giving a rose tree feelings and thoughts, Lamb helps readers see themselves in the story. It offers a quiet moral without preaching, making it a clear example of a fable, even if it is short and simple.

his rose-tree is not made to bear

The violet blue, nor lily fair,

Nor the sweet mignionet:

And if this tree were discontent,

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Parable of the Dove

by Louise Glück

‘Parable of the Dove’ by Louise Glück tells the story of a dove’s transformation and how it loses its purity and sense of self.

The poem can be considered a fable because it uses a dove, an animal, to tell a story that teaches a life lesson. It reflects on the consequences of longing and change, offering wisdom in a way similar to traditional fables. While it shares elements with a fable, the poem is not entirely one, as it focuses more deeply on emotions and personal reflection than a typical fable might.

A dove lived in a village.

When it opened its mouth

sweetness came out, sound

like a silver light around

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On Children

by Kahlil Gibran

‘On Children’ is the third prose-poem of Kahlil Gibran’s best-loved work, “The Prophet”. Through this poem, the prophet Al Mustafa explores how parents should think about their children.

And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, Speak to us of Children.

And he said:

Your children are not your children.

They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.

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On Love

by Kahlil Gibran

‘On Love’ appears in the second part of Kahlil Gibran’s best-known work “The Prophet”. It is a thoughtful meditation on spiritual love by the prophet Al Mustafa.

Then said Almitra, Speak to us of Love.

And he raised his head and looked upon the people, and there fell a stillness upon them. And with a great voice he said:

When love beckons to you, follow him,

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6 Significant Fable Poems

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6 Significant Fable Poems

Tractor

by Ted Hughes

The Camel’s Hump

by Rudyard Kipling

Envy

by Mary Lamb

Parable of the Dove

by Louise Glück

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