THE SIMPLE HEDGEHOG

The hedgehog crawls on castle walls
    And silence reigns where once was glory
Amid the stone now overgrown
    He witnesses the old old story

The hedgehog strays down carriageways
    Where once he'd take his final bow
And all around the only sound
    Is nature now

The hedgehog weaves with fallen leaves
    He seeks no more the babbling stream
But only goes where no-one knows
    To lie and dream

The hedgehog sleeps while nature weeps
    And sheds tears for a bygone day
In simple nest he takes his rest
    Amid decay

The hedgehog wakes and quickly takes
    A look at mankind's new release
But all he sees are birds and trees
    And hope and peace

  EPITAPH TO A SIMPLE HEDGEHOG

The hedgehog strays on carriageways
    As heavy lorries lumber by
But what might be he does not see
    Nor when nor why

BARRY PRESS

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poems about hedgehogs