The Fox and the Hares

By: Richard Lynch

o o o o o

The grass was wet from morning dew
The leaves were growing in
The bushes grew up nice and fat
The trees were tall and thin

The humans were out sunbathing
The bears were hunting trout
The birds were building up their nests
To help their babies sprout

A rabbit and his brother hare
Were going out to run
Their mother said to come right back
After they had their fun

They danced around the Willow Tree
They played their rabbit games
They wrestled like to bunnies would
And laughed with so few pains

They went on playing for some time
Until they heard a noise
They went and looked for what it was
Cu’ous as are two boys

They went on past the Willow Tree
As it loomed overhead
It was so large, it blocked the sun
(They thought it time for bed)

The two of them heard noise again
It sounded like a cry
They thought something would need their help
And they would surly try

Down past the crooked Willow Tree
They found a crying Fox
And on his back he held his arm
As if he fell on rocks

“Oh, help me please,” the Fox beseeched
“I fell down from the bank
If you could just give me a hand,
You two I’d truly thank.”

The two young rabbits thought a bit
About what Mother said
They if they came across a fox
They surly would be dead

“My two dear friends,” the Fox then said,
“I mean you both no harm
I merely want a place to rest
And heal my hurting arm.”

“We know you not,” the rabbits said,
“To us you are quite strange
There is the fear of eating us,
So how could we arrange?”

“My two dear friends,” the Fox then said,
“You blame me of false sin!
Indeed I have sharp teeth on me
But they show in a grin!”

“We know you not,” the rabbits said,
“This all could be a lie!
So how then could we really see
You with a trusting eye?”

“My two dear friends,” the Fox then said,
“I can’t convince you more
I promise you I’ll do no harm
Do not believe the lore.”

The rabbits could not leave him here
They had to take him with
Their Mother’s words, to them, right now,
Had turned into a myth

They carried the Fox all the way
Back to the Rabbit Hole
They sat him down and fixed up
Some hot tea and a roll

When Mother Hare came in and saw
The Fox was sitting here
She dropped her tea and pulled her hair
While screaming in pure fear

But the two brothers calmed her down
And showed the Fox was kind
The Mother sat down with them
In order to unwind

They talked and mingled, through and through
The most unlikely pair
For who could think in twenty years
A fox would talk to hare?

“Let us discuss,” the Fox then said,
“What we shall have to eat!
Let’s have nothing from the garden,
I’m the mood for meat!”

“You don’t mean us!” the rabbits cried,
Turning a little white,
“After we helped you out so much,
That just would not be right!”

“Don’t worry now!” the Fox then said,
“A little dab will do
We’ll add a little salt and spice
And make a tasty stew.”

“I'm sorry, friends,” the Fox then said,
“If I offer you none
It won’t be very long at all
Before the meal is done.”

“I’m sorry if I lead you on,
Will you please forgive me?”
But answer he heard not, because
He had eaten all three

o o o o o