The Three Snake-Leaves

What do you think of when you hear the word clever? Do you think of the sly fox outwitting the crow in Aesop’s fables? How about Odysseus tricking the cyclops Polyphemus? Maybe you think of someone you know who always seems to twist things to their favor. Whatever it is, it’s clear that being clever can be used for both good and evil. Sometimes, however, being clever doesn’t turn out the way you think. Today’s stories are all about being clever. From prideful mice to vengeful cannibals, we’ll hear a wide range of what being clever can look like. We’ll also be able to see what the consequences are when being clever backfires.  We’ll have the pleasure of hearing from Ingrid Nixon, Cindy Rivka Marshall, Martha Hamilton, Willy Claflin, and Tim Lowry.  On Today’s episode, enjoy the following: “The Three Snake-leaves” by Ingrid Nixon, from Grimm’s with a Twist (11:26)  Our first story originates from the Grimm brother’s collection of fairy tales. It has all the trademarks of a classic tale. A princess, a war, rags to riches, treachery, love. The list goes on. It all begins with a young soldier who gains the favor of the king. He marries the king’s daughter with one stipulation: if she is to die before he does, he is to be buried with her. Sadly, the worst comes to pass, and the soldier is entombed alive with his deceased wife. He manages to bring her back to life with the help of three mysterious leaves. The princess has changed, however, and instead of being grateful to her husband, she hatches a plan to get rid of him once and for all.  “The Magic Pomegranate Seed” by Cindy Rivka Marshall, from By the River – Women’s Voices in Jewish Stories (8:57)  Have you ever judged someone harshly only to realize that you’ve been just like them before? It might not be the most comfortable feeling, but it can be a valuable one. Coming up is “The Magic Pomegranate Seed” by Cindy Rivka Marshall. In it, a starving young widow steals in order to feed her children. She has the misfortune of being caught and her punishment is wor