The Bird Wounded By An Arrow.

A poem by Jean de La Fontaine

[1]

A bird, with plumèd arrow shot,
In dying case deplored her lot:
'Alas!' she cried, 'the anguish of the thought!
This ruin partly by myself was brought!
Hard-hearted men! from us to borrow
What wings to us the fatal arrow!
But mock us not, ye cruel race,
For you must often take our place.'

The work of half the human brothers
Is making arms against the others.