There was a lion named Leo
Who faced a major struggle:
Although he was caring and kind and sweet,
He was the littlest lion in the jungle.
He watched the other lions roar
And tried repeating after,
But the tiny squeak that left his mouth
Sent the others crying with laughter.
Hunting was another thing
That Leo could not do.
He would not catch a single buck,
While the others each caught two!
So Leo sat in his cave alone
And watched the others play.
“I will never be as big as them,” he sighed,
“I’d better just stay away.”
One day there was a party
To celebrate the king.
But Leo did not join the fun;
Alone, he heard them sing.
The lions roared and the jungle cheered;
Leo heard them all parttake.
When suddenly, a piercing cry called,
“SOMEONE STOLE MY CAKE!”
The king broke down in tears and instructed,
“Someone sound the alarm!
Who within this jungle dares
To cause me such a harm?”
The littlest lion left his cave
To see all of the action.
The others turned and were startled to see
Little Leo’s reaction.
“The only one who can pull this trick
Is a specimen named Meena,”
Leo stated, “Your Highness,
“Your cake is with the hyena.”
He walked up to the lion king
And patted him on the back.
“Your Highness, don’t worry,” he said,
“I’ll steal your cake right back!”
The animals fell to the floor
Their laughter mixed with spittle.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” they cackled,
“You can’t help if you are so little!”
But Leo did not welcome
The animals negativities.
He held his head up high and decided
To trust in his abilities.
“I may not be the biggest lion,
But this much I can’t deny:
I can do most anything
If only I just try!”
And so Leo embarked upon
The quest he chose to take:
To make his way to Meena’s bush
And steal back the king’s cake.
He ran through tree’s and grass and thorns,
And through rocks he had to wiggle.
It wasn’t very long before
He heard a mischievous giggle.
He stood up on his hind legs
To peek above the thicket.
Right there he saw the king’s big cake,
And watched as Meena licked it!
“Excuse me, Miss,” Leo said,
Approaching her politely,
“If I could have that cake back, please,
I’d thank you oh so sprightly!”
Meena stepped in front of the cake
And her face screwed into a scowl.
She shook her head and licked her lips,
Then said with a low growl:
“Buzz off, Leo. Go back toy our cave.
You’re silly as can be.
Do you really think such a little lion
Could steal this cake from me?”
Leo looked around himself
And gave the jungle a scan.
And, spotting the giant baobab tree,
He devised a cunning plan.
“I’ll race you for it,” Leo said,
“At the count of three we’ll start.
The first one to the baobab tree wins,
And gets to keep the tart!”
Meena laughed and sneered.
“You’re on, Leo,” she cried.
“Your little legs will never keep up,
But hey, at least you tried.”
Meena and Leo positioned themselves
With their paws on the starting line.
“I know a short cut,” said Leo,
“Which is sure to save us some time.”
“The party and all of the animals
Are in the middle of our track.
If we run through the boulders along the side,
We’ll dodge them and come out the back!”
“Makes no difference to me,” Meena hissed,
“You’re about to eat my dust.”
The animals inhaled and counted to three,
And the race began with a gust.
Meena shot ahead of Leo,
Her legs so long and wild.
Through the grass, but as they turned into the boulders,
Leo smiled.
For this path, unbeknownst to Meena,
Was where he each day played solo.
The animals could never fit
Through a path that became so narrow.
He slipped through the cracks and slid under the branches;
He skidded the twists and the turns.
He raced past Meena, who was squishing and squeezing,
Her face bright red with concern.
His little legs and narrow waist
Made Leo very agile.
By contrast, a large and clumsy body
Left Meena, for once, fragile.
Leo sped out from the narrow path
And arrived first at the tree.
A climbed atop a low-hanging branch
And waited patiently.
“You tricked me!” puffed and exhausted Meena,
“You’ve made a big mistake.
It’s not over, pal, but a deal’s a deal:
Get outta here, and take your cake!”
The party lay in a gloomy state,
Oblivious to what had gone down.
Only low chatter and words of concern
Were heard from all around.
As the king looked up and saw Leo approaching,
He yawned and licked his paw.
He had less than zero faith, until Leo came closer.
“Your Highness, Leo has the cake in his jaw!”
The animals cheered and the king stood up
While the cake was placed at his feet.
All quite lost for words and taken aback
By Meena’s apparent defeat.
“You’ve saved my party!” the lion king said.
“When all believed you would fail.”
“How did you do it?” the animals cried,
“Please, Leo, tell us the tale!”
“What Meena had against me was size,
This much is true.
She saw no threat in my little legs.
She doubted me, much like you.”
“And even though we can’t deny
That Meena has more vigour,
It did not matter much this time,
Because my brain is bigger.”
The party cheered in pure surprise,
Their celebration sweet.
They all began to lick their lips,
Eyeing out the revived party treat.
But as the king collected his sticks
And tried to create a blaze,
He realised it was Leo
Who in fact deserved some praise.
He lit a flame and with a smile
He handed Leo the candle.
“This party is no longer for me,” he announced,
“But for Leo, the cleverest lion in the jungle.”