Pantoum based on Aesop: Care After the Fact Being Useless

Once there was a singing bird in a cage.
She sang at night while other birds slept.
One night a bat flew by and clung to the bars.
“Why do you sing so at night, while other birds sleep?”

She sang at night while other birds slept.
“I must sing,” the bird said from her cage.

“Why do you sing so at night, while other birds sleep?”

“I was caught by the fowler because he followed my song—
“I must sing,” the bird said from her cage,
“But never again will I sing when I can be seen.
“I was caught by the fowler because he followed my song.”

“There was a time for such careful singing,” said the bat.

She sang at night while other birds slept.
“Why do you sing so at night, while other birds sleep?”