Irony without Sarcasm

Majnun and the Frog

Majnun was wandering through the wilderness searching eagerly for Layli. After many days, he grew weary from his constant searching and he fell up on the ground, exhausted. As he slept he dreamed of his beloved. When he awoke the fire of his longing and given way to burning thirst. Weakly he made his way to a nearby pool.

As he approached he heard an enchanting song. He was shocked to find that the melody was coming from a simple, little frog. He sat there enraptured, the delicate, feminine voice reminding him of his distant love. Not until long after the sing had finished was he able to return from deep within his own heart. As he stirred, the frog heard his sighs and called to him.

"Please sir, come near and hear my tale. I was not always as you see me now. I am a daughter of the King, a princess of this land. An evil spirit cursed me, and transformed into a frog. Only the love of one of noble birth can free me. I see that you have the bearing of a noble man, would you sit with me here and learn to love me."

"Alas," replied to lover, "I cannot for my heart belongs to Layli. I have given up my rank and all that is associated with it in my longing. I am but a wanderer in this wilderness, like you. And I must continue my search. Perhaps, though, we can look for our love together."

It is not known if she went with him, for Majnun kept divers company and happened upon many in his search. I believe that she did, and that they became true, long-lasting companions. Of course, as with all tales of man, accounts vary.

The Irrepresible Mr Toad

Bahh! 

I feel like the Mole in that children's story, happy and content in his hole until some crazy TOAD comes along and crashes through his front door with a fancy-schmancy death trap called an automobile!  O sure I would love to pretend the whole thing never happened!  But now I know there is a whole world above my roof!  And a maniac hell bent on stirring up more trouble than you have a right to!  Well Mr Toad, this Mole is not going to stop until I am good are ready!

Your comments yesterday have perplexed me-- mind you, it's not because I'm trying to understand you but rather because I'm trying to understand myself.  You are one of the most responsible people I have ever met, and yet you seem hell bound not to think of yourself thus. You are a wild and free spirit, but that only means you're all the more responsible.  Still, that's not what this is about.  It's about why I, who have felt the desire, or at least pressure, to be responsible my whole life, when faced with responsibility flee from it; it's about why I, when faced with the possibility of attaining the things I want most, that which I consider true success, I decide to head for the mole hills.

I don't think I'm making mountains out of those hills either.  I just think it's time for this behavior to stop.  Sure it could continue; it wouldn't be the end of the world.  I could live a very comfortable and--dare I say it-- successful life in my mole hole.  Many people do.  But what kind of story would it be if in the beginning of the book Mole went back into his hole?

see, now I think I understand why you don't keep regular pen pals.  One conversation with you tears away veils I would prefer not to know I had.  My mind is locked on this problem now like a vice; I cannot escape its grip.  This is always the case when I ride in your automobile Mr Toad!  

BAHHH!