The Rabbit

 
I caught a young wild  rabbit  
out in the fields one day  
eyes,wide and dark,  
suspicious scared of me,  
ears shot up and a tail  
in white distress.  
I stroked the frightened ears  
softened their unrest  
whispered,within the silken folds.  
The fear filled mite relaxed,  
blinked in trust and smile,  
my fingers through soft fur  
found a scar of old  
where once a fox had snapped  
and torn the milk white breast,  
now healing 'neath  my touch.  
Like this I  houred  the time away  
cured my own distress,  
loosed my frightened hold  
set the trusting creature down  
upon the dewy grass, beside my feet  
where then,in turn it gave comfort  
skipped round and laughed with me,  
as off I danced to home.  
Next day I went again  
to find a spot chewed close,  
a rabbit waiting . . .  
ears down, eyes in dream  
and legs that did not thump