dung beetles (a bedtime story for staal)

one day
on a quiet little hill
two dung beetles happened upon each other
after spending some time together
side by side
each pushing their own ball of dung up the hill
one remarked to the other how like the story of sisyphus it all seemed
the other reflected on this thought
and came to the conclusion
there might be another way
the beetles discussed the alternative and found it worth a shot
they consolidated their balls of dung into one
and took turns pushing it up the hill
one taking over when the other tired
it was easier and much more enjoyable than toiling alone
and they made quick work of the hill in this way
at the top
they caught their breath
and took in the view
tired from their trek up the hill
they rested their bodies against the ball of dung
and drifted off to sleep in the warm sun
they shared a dream
of what it would be like to be a pine tree
feeling the peace of standing quietly
being rooted in stillness
branches and needles caressed by the breeze
when the beetles awoke
they found that out of the ball of dung
a pine tree had sprouted
the beetles decided to give up the busyness of dung ball rolling
and stayed together
at the top of the hill they had climbed together
tending their little pine tree