Name : Date Class Ancient China Primary Sources and Literature Readings The Tale of a Frog by the Shan People of Southern Annam People who work to protect nature know that all the living things in the world are connected and interdependent. This traditional poem from Annam, a region in what is now Vietnam, gives an example of this connection. “Heron, heron, why are you so lean?” “Tam lean because the shrimp don’t come upstream.” “Shrimp, shrimp, why don’t you come upstream?” “{ don’t come upstream because the grass grows too thick.” “Grass, grass, why do you grow so thick?” “"I grow so thick because the water buffalo doesn’t eat me.” “Buffalo, buffalo, why don’t you eat the grass?” “I don’t eat the grass because the stake won’ let me go.” “Stake, stake, why don’t you let the buffalo go?” “Idon’t let the buffalo go because the herdboy neglects his work.” “Herdboy, herdboy, why do you neglect your work?” “Ineglect my work because my stomach is empty.” “Stomach, stomach, why are you empty?” “Tam empty because the rice isn’t cooked.” “Rice, rice, why aren’t you cooked?” “Lam not cooked because the firewood is wet.” “Firewood, firewood, why are you wet?” “Lam wet because the rain never stops falling.” “Rain, rain, why do you never stop falling?” “Inever stop falling because the frog scratches his back.” “Frog, frog, why do you scratch your back?” “[scratch my back because my ancestors have always scratched their backs. Why shouldn't i scratch mine?” From Contes Tjames by A. Landes, Saigon, 1887. Quoted in| Saw a Rocket Walla Mile by Carl Withers. Copyright (© 1965 by Carl Withers, published by Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc. Think It Over 1. What effect does the climate of Southern Annam have on all the living creatures in the poem? 2. Explain how each cause becomes an effect and each effect a cause. (© Peoson Education, lnc, ubishing os Peaton Pic Hel. lights sere 126