Rabbit's Song

Trickster came a'calling to find a totem here

To teach the foolish heart of man

Without installing fear.

Many came and many went and still the trickster paused;

Bear and cat and tiger tried but had too many claws.

Dog and wolf though wise indeed

Had teeth t'were quite a fright

And owl with his tawny eyes could only see at night.

"no," the trickster said at last

"teachers, i see many.

But my way is full of laughter and in you i see not any."

But beneath the tree where eagle sat

Coyote told the tale

Of silly hares cavorting

In the old country of wales.

Raven stared unto the sun

And crow sang awful songs

And rabbit sat a'listening

With ears so wondrous long.

"aha!" the trickster danced a dance

Of mirth and vict'ry sweet.

He leapt with joy and swooped a swoop

And landed at their feet.

"of all here now," the trickster said

"you are the very beasts!"

And rabbit said, "i'm sorry sir

But of all, we are the least."

The trickster smiled and raised a hand

And spoke: "i have a plan

The four of you shall help me

To teach the heart of man.

Raven with your love of light

The sun you'll steal and soon.

For the gift of warmth i give to man

To be the greatest boon.

And crow, you silly creature

Who sings without a voice,

Teach man `bout pride and helping

You really have no choice.

Coyote my friend, together we'll spin

Many a tale at night,

And show man by our naughtiness

What really should be right."

At last he turned to rabbit

With a twinkle in his eye

"you'll be my favorite creature

And here's the reason why:

Your eyes are bright, your feet are swift

Your ears hear round the bend

But your very simple humbleness

Will steal the heart of men.

Together we shall thwart the pains

The gods do throw to earth

And turn aside their fiery darts

With merriment and mirth.

And when time comes that men forget

The lessons animals render

T'will be the humble rabbit

That mankind will remember."

And round the trickster the animals thronged

The birds and all the beasts

And humbly bowed to the king they found,

Who thought himself "the least."