Sunday, 20 April 2025

The Rabbit by Fiona Carstairs


 Three days she lay in pain

Her back leg caught in a trap

Before the walker set her free

Bathed the wound and found a wrap

Laid her down to sleep

Next morning at the break of day

He found his friend had died

But not before delivering 

Three kits lying at her side

The sun quivered on the hill

His tears shed upon her fur

Defused her body shape

As she changed the space to fill

A nearby church its bells were rung

As pure light she had become

And with winged energy arose to meet the 

Rising Son

6 comments:

Liz said...

A beautiful metaphor full of hope coming from sadness. I particularly like the imagery at the end; of the dawn, and the wordplay 'Rising Son' - I felt that it was prompted by something that you had experienced out walking.

Irena Szirtes said...

Again, it was a delight to hear this on Tuesday evening. It resonates with ne on several levels. Like Liz I love the last line. It resonates on a faith level, but also on a love of animals level and it also brings back memories of a dad who loved Easter and to whom people brought injured wildlife (including a rabbit) to be cared for. Perfect for Easter Sunday ☀️

Irena Szirtes said...

Ps I just got the significance of the three days too... brilliant 😍

Louise Lee said...

I felt sad. Well done

Anonymous said...

Your feeling of sadness comes through really well in the poem that is interspersed with feelings of hope.

Adam

Jennie said...

Lots of beautiful emotive lines Fiona. It is a very sad but hopeful poem.