Rabbits! (IP)

By Rhiannonw

Sat, 26 May 2012
  • 1985 reads
7 comments
 

Unwelcome explosion!
a plague population:

they ate the fruit,
and nibbled each shoot,
they cropped the corn,
great swathes were shorn:
the farmer’s annoyed,
his labour destroyed.

So, seek a Pied Piper
with skill as a sniper?
have traps any merit?
or purchase a ferret?
a rabbit-proof fence
will cost him some pence …

But myxomatosis
brought intantly stasis
to the rabbits’ fecundity,
and thieveing activity;
and shrank their community.

Certificate U
Poem
Nature
Nature

Comments

Submitted by sid on
I really liked this, particularly the 'seek a pied piper' stanza. But the final stanza seems to end somewhat abruptly, as though there is a line missing? But maybe in my head I am reading it wrong

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on
Thanks, Sid. Yes, I felt it finished abruptly, but I thought maybe that was right for this, but, I'll keep it in mind, and maybe will think of a continuation … ! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Your poem made me smile Rhiannon. We are literally overrun with rabbits at the moment, and they are eating all my husbands cabbages etc. that he's planted in our vegetable patch. They are adorable though, especially, watching them running around just before sundown. Just wish they didn't have such big appetites;-) Your poem, much enjoyed, and a brilliant one for the IP;-) Tina

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on
Thanks, Tina. It was brought to mind when being told of some friends who live in farm buildings being woken recently by sheep 'noise' in the early hours. On opening the curtains their neighbour saw 20 sheep staring in, and his hard work in his little garden largely consumed! They had to shoo them back through a hole in the fence there and then. Incidentally, I went back to look for the verse you submitted on the IP, as I find that kind of verse a little difficult to follow (not into mystical and mythical language!), but had been struck on reflection by your use of the word (I think) to describe the abundance of variety in nature, with your usual gift of putting together an unusual variety of little things (cobwebs and cuckoos?). But I think you have taken it down. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Hi again, Rhiannon. I have to say I can certainly identify with those friends of yours. There are sheep in a neighbouring field to ours, and they are always getting through into next door but one's garden, although fortunately not into ours, as we have it well fenced. One day last week about half or dozen or so decided they wanted a change of scenery, the ram as well I might add, and it took four of us to 'encourage' them to return to whence they came. As for the poem to which you refer, yes, I did take it down as I felt it needed a bit more work, but shall repost it shortly. Really pleased you noticed it;-) Tina

 

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Rhiannon

Good poem. I enjoyed it.

Whenever I read about rabbits, I think about the time when we were visiting friends of my husband's in Cumbria. They also had a German boy staying with them at the time. We spent about a week watching the rabbits playing in the field near the house, and then one day, John suggested that my husband and this boy go and shoot some - just for the fun of it. I was livid. It was the time of Watership Down in the cinemas. But they duly did this, and John skinned it and presented it to me to take home. I refused. I said I wanted nothing to do with it, and certainly wouldn't cook or eat it. He then became angry, and told me in great detail how the rabbit hadn't died straight away, so my husband had had to ring its neck as well. Then he made sure the pork roast we had that evening was very bloody. My relationship with them was never the same after that.

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Sad tale, in more ways that one. Though I guess we are rather removed from the 'catching' and preparation of our meat, these days. But I do like my meat well cooked — my mother's firm training there! I'm away for a few days as my youngest son got married today, so I'll be a little while getting back to your series, sorry. Rhiannon