The Fox and the Magpie

Text by David Malouf (E)

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A hungry fox insults a magpie, who cannot reply because its mouth is full of meat. Humming is the only defence, as the cunning fox claims to want to learn the art of song. Eventually, in a rage at the thought of its lyrical role being usurped, the magpie lets the meat drop which is gobbled up by the fox. Meat is the song that the fox really desired. However, the magpie has not lost its musical skills and will still be in possession of its song, even when the fox is hungry for food again that night: "There is meat enough in the world but never enough music."

Comic, Poetic