Published in my "Kinfolks Column" of the
Newton County, Arkansas Times Newspaper on 10 January 2000
Adapted from AESOPS's FABLES.

TWO POTS, ONE OF CLAY AND THE OTHER OF BRASS WERE CARRIED DOWNSTREAM
IN BIG CREEK WHEN IT WAS IN ITS RAPID, RUSHING STAGE ON ITS WAY TO
THE BUFFALO RIVER
THE BRASS POT BEGGED HIS COMPANION TO REMAIN AS CLOSE BY HIS SIDE AS
POSSIBLE, AND HE WOULD PROTECT HIM.

"YOU ARE VERY KIND" REPLIED THE CLAY POT, "BUT THAT IS JUST WHAT
I AM AFRAID OF"
"IF YOU WILL ONLY KEEP YOUR DISTANCE, I SHALL BE ABLE TO FLOAT DOWN
IN SAFETY"
"BUT SHOULD WE COME TOO CLOSE, WHETHER I STRIKE YOU OR YOU STRIKE ME,
I AM SURE TO BE THE ONE WHO WILL GET THE WORSE OF IT."