The elephant and the lion

Once there was an elephant
Timid, craven and meek
He feared even a squirrel
He even feared a beak

Once while having lunch
A lion there came by
Fearing the eleph he scuttled
In the the shadows to lie

But then he saw the eleph
Wary of even the gravel
Gathered some courage the lion
And went forth for a quarrel

Said he 'Lousy Pachyderm
What are you doing here?
This is my territory
Run before skin I tear'

The eleph got frightened
But stood there very still
He went blank, couldn't think
The lion decided to grill

Said he 'Silly eleph
Get out of this place
Before I lose my temper
And claw across your face'

The eleph regained his senses
And turned around to flee
The lion enjoying this a lot
Laughed out in glee

Running the eleph then
Bumped into a fox
The fox howled, loudly cried
'You should be kept in locks'

The eleph now in tears
Said 'I am very sorry
Didn't mean to bump in you
Just listen to the story'

He narrated the encounter
And why he had to flee
The fox mighty amazed at this
Said 'I see. I see'

Foxy took a look at him
Said to him in scoff
'Pachyderm, you are no worm
What were you afraid of?'

Said the eleph in horror
How he feared the claws
To which the fox replied
'But you are here the boss'

Said the eleph 'What?
But fighting really hurts'
Exclaimed the fox in dismay
'What! Are you nuts!'

Said the eleph now
'He has a lot of might'
The fox said through gritted teeth
'I can't believe your fright'

Said the eleph in a defeated tone
'I couldnt have won'
Said the fox 'Who cares?
You should have atleast begun'

The eleph again in tears asked
'What am I supposed to do?'
Sympathetic the fox now said
'Just build some courage in you'

The eleph took the fox's advice
And began to face his fears
And as he grew bold and mighty
The beasts stopped their jeers

He went to the lion's cave
The lion came out cowed
He wrapped the lion in his trunk
And flung him over the cloud