The Jobs That Bowed

They carved for praise—until the dam forgot how to hold.

By Forest Moss

1

Down by the stream where the dam-builders buzzed,

The beavers were known to be steady, not fussed.

They carved with precision, they stacked with great care,

Their work kept the forest from flooding despair.

2

No one asked why they carved, or who gave the plans—

They just did their duty with tails and with hands.

Till one fateful morning, a scroll fluttered down,

Signed by the one who now ruled in a crown.

3

It read:

“From this day, your work must reflect

Allegiance and love to the Nester Elect.

Your dams must include—no matter the test—

A carving that reads, ‘Glory to the Nest!’”

4

The critters looked up from their chisels and bark.

They blinked at the scroll, then returned to their work.

But the next day came louder demands from the Beak:

“I don’t see your slogans! Are you traitors or meek?”

5

Soon, every workplace—tree, tunnel, or shed—

Had murals of eagles and banners in red.

The dam at the falls had a giant new plaque:

“One Nest, One Branch, and No Turning Back!”

6

The contracts for twigs only flowed to the few

Who echoed the motto: “All Glory Be Due!”

If you didn’t declare it in twine or in tone,

You might lose your tools—and build nothing alone.

7

A porcupine plumber was told by a shrew,

“Paint ‘Feathers Forever’—or no job for you.”

And even the frogs had to sing in one key:

“No Rivets Unless You Revere Nest decree!”

8

Lantern the Beetle blinked twice in the gloom,

Whispering softly inside her workroom:

“We built to protect. We work to create.

Not shout slogans carved by a top-down dictate.”

9

But the scrollvine kept flashing with cheerful command:

“The workers who praise are the best in the land!”

And soon there were “Loyalty Logs” to inspect—

To see if you built with the right kind of respect.

10

Now Rilla the Rabbit once carved her own name—

But she was replaced by a mole with more flame.

“He wrote Nest Supreme on a dozen straight posts!”

“He even tattooed it on one of his toasts!”

11

The dams held together, but something felt wrong.

The carvings grew louder, the work less strong.

What once had been crafted with skill and with heart—

Was now built to flatter, not function as art.

12

Till one rainy night, a great dam gave a groan.

The carvings were flawless—but not the backbone.

And when it collapsed in a thunderous swoop,

The forest asked, softly: “Was this built for truth?”

13

In the hush that followed, a whisper took hold:

“Work should be honest. Not sold. Not controlled.”

The beavers returned to their quiet old ways—

And carved once again with no slogans, no praise.

🎯 Moral of the Story:

When work wears a slogan, the worker is no longer free.

✏️ Why I Wrote This

This fable mirrors real trends where economic power is weaponized to force ideological compliance—from government contracts to corporate culture wars. When businesses and workers are told what to think instead of how to build, both dignity and quality erode.

For kids, this is a tale about doing honest work for the right reasons.

For adults, it’s a warning about forced loyalty, economic manipulation, and performative patriotism.