The Tariff Tangle in Timberwood

About unity, courage, and the power of inclusive leadership. When one bird tries to rule the skies alone, the forest unites to prove that true strength comes from flying together. With courage, kindness, and a single silver feather, they build a world where every wing can rise.

By Ross Boulton

In the deep leafy bends of old Timberwood Trail,

Where chipmunks would chatter and bluejays would wail,

A squabble broke out—not with roars or with paws,

But with taxes and tariffs and tangle-top laws.

🦅 Eagle the Loud, on a gold-gilded limb,

Fluffed up his feathers and started to brim:

“That Tiger sells trinkets and toys by the ton!

He’s stealing our sparkle, our shine, and our fun!

Only I fix what’s broken—just ask me, you’ll see!

So we’ll slap on some tariffs... one-forty-three!”

🐅 Tao the Silent, the Tiger so sly,

Did not blink an eye, nor let out a cry.

“The forest shifts... I stay still,” he said.“

But push me too far, and I’ll strike instead.”

He halted the honey, the copperleaf soap,

The tech-beetle batteries, biscuits, and rope.

“No more Boeing bugs!” said the Tiger with flair.“

And rare beetle dust? Don’t expect any to spare.”

🪶 Jay-Dee the Parrot-Crow, perched on a vine,

Squawked out a speech he forgot halfway through the line:

“We’re winning the trade—like, totally spinning!

Or wait… are we losing? Is that what is winning?”

🦢 Willow the Swan, ever calm, ever white,

Floated by moonbeams and sighed at the sight:

“Could we not flap toward a better plan?

Your squabbles and squawks unsettle each clan.”

⚖️ Judge Talon the Owl, in his hollow of scrolls,

Read laws by the lantern and grumbled in tolls:

“The rules grow unclear, but the forest pays dear.

And tantrums in trade bring more harm than cheer.”

🐿️ Whimsy the Squirrel, munching mint-pebble pie,

Watched from a twig with a flick of his eye.

“They’re acting so mighty, but both seem so small…

While nettle-noodle carts vanish from all!”

Now the forest was tense—prices went high,

And bees stopped delivering honey-baked pie.

No more glitter-grub gumdrops, no nettle-gnat stew,

And porcupines sighed, “What’s a critter to chew?”

So let this be known in the branches and burrows:

Trade isn’t built by declaring new furrows.

It thrives with a handshake, with sharing, with talk—

Not tantrums and tolls and tariffs that stalk.

🌲 Moral of the Fable:

Trade built on tantrums may thicken the fog,

But friendship and fairness can lift every log.

If you must make a deal, try a chat, not a fight—

For talking out troubles brings far better light.