a rabbit on the mat

A RABBIT ON THE MAT

When life was long and cares were few
     I used to have a neighbour who
Bred rabbits that would run away
     To come back later in the day
And feed inside a makeshift hutch
     He didn't understand them much

A roving rabbit was not rare
     I soon forgot to stare or care
Until one dark October night
     I saw a most unusual sight
For there upon my welcome mat
     A rabbit sat, just like a cat

As I approached it didn't hide
     And seemed to want to come inside
No not to want, more to expect
     As if it though I'd not object
As if it thought I somehow knew
     We had a solemn rendezvous

So in it came and sniffed around
     And settled on a spot it found
A cosy corner warm and snug
     Beside an armchair on a rug
And closed its eyes. I shook my head
     And unbelieving went to bed

I thought it might have been a dream
     So cat-like did that rabbit seem
The memory so bothered me
     I rose and checked at half-past-three
And yes it still was on the floor
     But so were fourteen rabbits more

Next day inside my garden gate
     I saw what must have been her mate
I took him in and let him see
     His doe and her new family
Her bunnymoon was over soon
     He stayed for half an afternoon

At first the young ones were too small
     For me to try to touch at all
And then I moved them in a box
     I warmly lined with woollen socks
My neighbour said he didn't mind
     My keeping some: but I declined

For weeks I watched them grow
     Till I too had to go
Much later I returned
     And from my neighbour learned
That they had all been sold
     At six months old

Now I like to live by fields
     And I hate to live in town
And I like to live in houses
     With an upstairs and a down
But the home I find I dream of
     In spite of all of that
Is a flat I had in Stepney ......
     With a rabbit on the mat!

BARRY PRESS