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In cozy Swamp,

     self-governing amphibian populace

Became upset with democratic laws in place

And prayed for CHANGE.

     " O Heavens," - Frogs appealed, - "We are

Fed up with this so-called 'free will' bazaar,

Please grant us a majestic King, Caliph, or Czar."

Though heeding vain requests from fools

Is not among Good Heaven's rules,

Kind gods were merciful and answered frantic cries

By granting Frogs a Czar.

     It came with blast from skies

And dropped in the morass with such a bang

That shook the bog, while holy thunder rang.

At such a stun,

Frogs cleared off and took refuge,

As fast as feet could run;

And wondered how great and huge

Was their Czar.

     And true, to everyone's surprise,

Czar in appearance was impressive:

In manners staid, non-violent,

Non-aggressive,

And silent;

Yet he was large as giant in size.

He was a miracle - to cherish and be glad!

The only thing with their Czar was bad:

He was … an aspen log, even if sent from Skies.

At first, His Majesty was kept in high respect:

Nobody dared to even face the throne,

All subjects watched from distance the unknown

And scary Czar, unsure what to expect.

But since to any miracle produced

The World was always able to get used,

So Frogs eventually forgot the fear.

Then some of them crawled closer to revere

The Czar;

     then showed him a body side,

Then those braver sat beside,

While others even ventured turn to Czar their rear.

Yet Czar was gracious and put up with assault

And didn't punish any fault.

At last, whoever wanted,

Would jump on top of Czar, undaunted.

"Ah, what a bore is this Czar - sheer aggravation" -

Frogs prayed to gods in sour frustration. -

"Please send us living Czar - one, who could jump and run,

And frolic, and cavort enjoying regal fun!"

Well, gracious gods decided, nothing wrong in there,

And sent Red Fox to Frogs -

     He came with great fanfare!

But Fox had no interest in Frogs

Nor ever cared for their slimy bogs

So, this Czar hunted mice and rabbits - dawn till late,

Or chased deep in the woods a sexy mate,

Neglecting royal swamp.

Once more, every day

Frogs pester gracious gods again and pray -

For caring Czar.

"Enough - Gods raged, - your folly went too far!"

And sent instead of careless Fox or soulless Log

Long-Legged Heron.

There He comes in morning fog,

A caring judge indeed, fair with a saint and sinner.

He never spoils his subjects - he's on temper short

And practices a regal legal sport:

He catches, tries, and eats bad Frogs, yet in his Court

There are no innocents - all are of guilty sort,

And them Czar executes on breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The life in swamp gets dark as moonless night

With no hope for light:

Frog's population shrinks with every Heron's bite.

The judge walks kingdom rounds, dawn to dawn,

And anyone he meets,

He tries and prosecutes at once, and eats.

And once again, Frogs croak, moan, and groan,

And pray to gods, prostrate,

To send them other Czar, till's not too late,

Because their kin would cease.

They say:

"It's terrible to never be at ease

Nor play,

Nor croak, nor even sneeze,

And that in fact, all in- and- out,

Czar Heron's worse than summer draught." -

"But why you fools couldn't live in peace

When you were free?" -

The Voice from Heaven came, -

"And never cease

To pester me

With calls for sovereigns - claim after claim?

Yet when I sent a Humble Log, you said that he was dead

And wouldn't fit into your rotten slum.

I sent you merry Fox, you said he didn't care

And censured Fox's flippant flair.

I gave you Heron then - you call him mean, instead.

But you deserve him,

      and the worse may yet to come!"

You, those who trade the liberty for thoughtless change,
Be primed for slavery - your fair and just revenge!

Author's note: The characters and situations depicted in this composition are purely fictional and never meant to describe specific personalities and/or events of human nature. Any resemblance to actual facts, if at all, should be deemed absolutely coincidental; and any claims to the opposite are categorically repudiated.

All complaints should be filed against Mr.Aesop, Samos, Ancient Greece. Phone number and email address unknown.

Dr. Anatoly Tsaliovich holds a Ph.D. in telecommunications and electromagnetic engineering. A Bell Labs retiree, he is an author of eight technical books and a book of fables, consults and teaches on the technical subjects of his expertise in the U.S. and overseas, and also writes fiction. "The frogs asking for a king" is an ancient political satire brought to modernity to fit the current issues. It is included in his latest book "FablePolitik," soon to be published.