Content to relax and take his time,
Sloth was in his tree.
He slowly grabbed a leaf to eat.
Smiling, he felt carefree.
A Hummingbird went on his way,
Darting to and fro.
In and out of flowerbeds,
Fast was how he'd go.
More opposites you could not find,
Just like night and day.
They just could never understand
How each could live his way.
Always polite when they would meet,
They'd say, "Hi" and then move on.
One day Hummingbird came down
And asked Sloth, just as he yawned-
"You sit up here, all day and night,
Lazing all about.
Does your routine begin to bore
And raise some ounce of doubt?
That surely it's better to be
Fast and energetic?
You're slow, getting nothing done-
Your life's kind of pathetic."
Sloth took a minute (or two or three)
Before he did then speak.
"Hummingbird, you do mistake
My being slow for weak.
I may not be as fast as you,
You let the world pass by.
You notice nothing beautiful
As you flit and as you fly.
You find my life slow and sad
And that is sure your right.
But I'm more fulfilled than you can be-
You'd find my world more bright."
Hummingbird shrugged and said,
"Let's agree to disagree."
Then he flew off and left
Sloth laying in his tree.
One week later, Sloth was still
Relaxing in his tree.
When he heard a buzzing sound
Coming from some bees.
They were there building a hive
Near Hummingbird's best flowers.
His feeding ground that he'd visit
On the nose of every hour.
As expected, Bird came by
To commence upon his feeding.
The bees now guarded all the plants,
Stopping the Bird from succeeding.
Distressed, of course, he flew up
To where Sloth had been napping.
Bird cried to him, "What will I do?"
With wings furiously flapping.
"My blossoms are completely blocked!
I have no place to feed!
I need my nectar from those blooms,
I just cannot eat seed!"
Sloth slowly opened up his eyes
And turned to Hummingbird.
He said, "Stop your worrying now,
You are being quite absurd!
Just find another patch of plants-
It can't be very hard.
There's tons of flowers in this jungle,
One bed for every yard!"
Hummingbird sneered at Sloth
And said, "Haven't you heard?
We are territorial-
Those belong to other birds!
I've looked before and never found
Another section free.
Oh I will surely starve to death!
What will become of me?"
Sloth took five minutes to roll his eyes,
And said, "You failed to see,
Because you always move so fast,
The patch hidden by that tree."
Sloth began to start to turn
Towards the ground below somewhere.
After some time he pointed to
Flowers beyond compare.
Beneath the shade of a big tree
Was Bird's new feeding ground.
Bird could not believe these blooms
Never had been found!
Sloth said, "All you Hummingbirds
Move around so fast.
There is much that you do miss
And many things you pass."
Hummingbird was grateful-
"You have saved me from sure doom!"
And then he went and flew off
To feed on his new blooms.
Happily the Hummingbird
Would go about his day,
Thankful to the Sloth
For showing him this way.
He finally understood
The Sloth's own point of view-
That slowness has an upside
And some benefits, it's true.
One sunny day the Bird,
While flitting all around,
Happened to see Sloth
Slowly crawling on the ground.
He flew right down to greet him
And have a little chat,
When Hummingbird saw Sloth
Being stalked by a big cat!
The Jaguar was quite stealthy
And Sloth hadn't a clue!
The Cat would pounce so quick and fast
Before Sloth even knew!
Bird knew he had to save his friend,
Too slow to get away.
But Hummingbird, small and fast,
Could keep Jaguar at bay!
Hummingbird swiftly swooped down
Like the fastest fighter jet.
He started to dive bomb the Cat-
His friend he would not get!
In and out and up and down,
With increased rapidity-
Distracted Jaguar until Sloth
Could climb back up the tree!
Jaguar slunk off, quite annoyed.
Hummingbird felt relieved
To know that he had saved his friend,
Pleased by what he'd achieved.
Bird flew to where Sloth had sat
In branches, safe and sound.
Sloth felt better not to be
Defenseless on the ground.
Sloth saw his friend and smiled wide
And thanked him for his aid.
Sloth said he'd seen Jaguar too late
And became very afraid!
Before he knew it, Jaguar turned
Attention to elsewhere.
Sloth was saved by Hummingbird-
Of this he was aware.
Sloth turned to Hummingbird and said,
"You are fast and I am slow-
Though very different in our ways,
Both have benefits, you know."
"Helping each other these past days
In our times of bleakness,
Made me see our personal strengths
Offset the other's weakness.
We're a great team, and we've earned
Each other's admiration.
Plus, your feathers are so beautiful,
And I'm great at conversation!"
Bird laughed at this and then agreed.
Despite all differences,
From that day on they would become
The very best of friends.
