A fable is a story told in prose or verse, the main purpose of which is to teach a life lesson or a moral. For example, the moral of "The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing" is that the evil doer often comes to harm through his own deceit.
Fables usually use talking animals to speak and act like human beings in order to demonstrate a lesson about human behavior.
Throughout history, fables have served a sociopolitical function. They often act as veiled critiques of societal norms, political systems and leadership, providing a relatively safe haven for sociopolitical commentary in periods where dissent could be met with harsh consequences (FYI: Vanity Fair, Nov. 11, 2024: Donald Trump’s Extremely Long List of Second-Term Revenge Targets: Everyone from Democratic lawmakers to retired generals and major news networks appear to be in the crosshairs)
In times of dread, artists must never choose to remain silent. This is precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear.
-- Toni Morrison, "No Place for Self-Pity, No Room for Fear"
Strive to change the world in such a way that there’s no further need to be a dissident. Read between the lives, and write between the lines. "Be committed to something outside yourself."
Lawrence Ferlinghetti, "Poetry as Insurgent Art"
The following tanka is the first political fable I wrote for the cheering crowds of Donald Trump's supporters:
Between Heaven and Hell, VIII
just a dream, and yet ...
the mountain lion roaring
to flocks of sheep,
once elected as your King
I'll be vegetarian
