A leopard who was fond of mice br and claimed to have no other vice br was killed by a rhinoceros, br which really wasn't a great loss br because the jungle was well filled br with leopards, so the one just killed br was left right near a shady tree br his body dead, his soul now free. br br Night fell, the moon looked at the spots br that fade as now the carcass rots br when, in the shadow of the tree br the other animals could see br that even though the beast was dead br he seemed to nod his ugly head. br br And then, his body seemed to stir br some thought they heard a leopard's purr. br Giraffe said 'this cannot be true', br (he had escaped from Capetown Zoo) br and, soon, the jungle's real king br pronounced that there was no such thing br as leopards playing resurrection br it surely must be the reflection br of moon and other magic forces. br br The elephant said 'hold your horses', br and two hyenas who had come br to have a meal felt pretty dumb. br They hadn't eaten in a week br and now, that things looked pretty bleak br they looked around for mice or rats br and succulicious jungle bats. br br All mice, though, from the underground br were hidden and could not be found br they ate it up, oh what a feast br inside the dead but moving beast. br br All learned that when a leopard rots br it can and will change all its spots. br The moon put on his wily grin br said 'one must get beneath the skin br to change the ways of any beast br sometimes this brings about a feast br but that is truly Nature's way! ' br And that was all he had to say.