The Bird Catcher and the Viper

A bird catcher collected all his equipment and went into the country to see what he could catch.

After a short while he spotted a thrush sitting high up in a tree, singing a beautiful song.

“I must have that creature,” the bird catcher said to himself.

He kept a close eye on the bird, whilst preparing his nets and contraptions. His whole concentration was on the thrush.

As he was making his final preparations he trod on a viper, sleeping peacefully in the undergrowth.

The snake, annoyed at being trodden on and woken, bit the bird catcher.  As the poison took effect the bird catcher lamented “Woe is me! That while I purposed to hunt another, I am myself fallen unawares”.

Be careful not to concentrate too long on one thing, to the exclusion of all others.