I watched this baby rabbit pass
a half grown furry Jack
who paused to rest on uncut grass
while on his solemn trek.
He stopped awhile along the way,
to test and sniff the air
and look for signs of preying eyes
that could be lurking near.
My anxious would-be hunting dogs
went leaping up and down
attempts to break their surly bonds
and run him to the ground.
He stayed what seemed forever
though maybe it was less
since running wild on city streets
is risky at its best.
Yet through it all he poised alert
not moving not a tweak
attentive to his current plight
awareness at its peak.
Then quickly as he came in view
he turned and off he set
moving in some rhythmic gait
that only rabbits get.
I watched him like a hunter might
on other days in time
as he hopped along in sync with life
silent as a mime.
He finally disappeared from sight
enveloped by the thatch
in the quiet darkened safety
of a mesquite briar patch.
Our lives are like the rabbits
from birth to bitter end
running resting cautiously
not sure what's round the bend.
A contest entry
- All the cowgirls shakin' their sassafras ~ Holler Back ~ Down Home Poetry (open now to PWs) by Xianaria.
900 points, ended December 7, 2008, 17 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 9 of 9
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Just beautiful. Love the picture you painted of this rabbit and its alertness to danger. You had me standing on a porch watching this unfold and waiting to see what the rabbit was going to do. I am glad your dogs were tethered. Fantastic write and full marks from me.
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Thank you for entering ~
nice rhyme & flow, I liked the message within.
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What a delightful poem! Can’t you just see it? The only thing that threw me a little was where in the 4th stanza you mentioned “running wild on city streets”. Before that verse (and after) it sounded for all the world like it was taking place in the country. Good luck in the contest.
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well done . . flows nicely . . liked "in sync with life" and "from birth to bitter end" . . good luck in the contest
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Great take on life
The last stanza wraps it up very nicely:
'from birth to bitter end
its running toward and resting from
with shadows in between'
Enjoyed the story line as well.
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We are close in nature, us and the rabbits, everyday poking our noses out and testing the air for predators, at least I do. I like your poem, especially the last two lines.
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Rabbits must be the same world wide, they appear nonchalant but are always fully alert, seem to stay in one place for ages and then disappear like magic. I like the rhythm best here, it just flows effortlessly along. The last verse need discussion though, there is more than 'shadows in between'
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Just love it what you wrote and specially the last stanza. It applies to a lot of people.
Thanks for sharing and good luck.
~Titia~
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And
In years spent in reckless abandon I find my life that way. But as I read I see a certain beauty spilling from your wondrous words and I have cause to smile.
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