You're No Bunny, Til Some Bunny Loves You

Poems, in the form of nursery rhymes, were, for many of us, our introduction to stories. I will post a favourite poem each week. Email me your favourite poems and I will post them too.

This week's poem brings back fond memories, not because I particularly like it, but because everytime I had to recite a poem at school, my mother would tell me about how she once had a literature teacher who liked to make his students recite The Snare ad nauseum.

In fact, I'd never, till five minutes ago, read the entire poem. It's quite a sad little one, poor bunny! You can read a brief bio of the poet, James Stephens, here.

Anyhow, here is The Snare, in memory of my dearest mama. 

The Snare
To A.E.

I hear a sudden cry of pain!
There is a rabbit in a snare;
Now I hear the cry again,
But I cannot tell from where.

But I cannot tell from where
He is calling out for aid;
Crying on the frightened air,
Making everything afraid.

Making everything afraid,
Wrinkling up his little face,
As he cries again for aid;
And I cannot find the place!

And I cannot find the place
Where his paw is in the snare:
Little one! Oh, little one!
I am searching everywhere.

James Stephens

Comments

[Daphne]

Hi Kwan! I have not read The Velveteen Rabbit and I know I shld soon.

Martin has and likes it very much.

BTW, we have to meet soon!

And yes, I have read Back Home. It's good, altho I prefer Goodnight Mr Tom.

[Daphne]

Hi Kwan! I have not read The Velveteen Rabbit and I know I shld soon.

Martin has and likes it very much.

BTW, we have to meet soon!

[kwan]

Your poem brings to mind one of my absolute favourite picture book - The Velveteen Rabbit. Read it as an adult and loved both story and illustrations. (Found two copies in Pay Less Books recently, by different illustrators, such a treat!) It was a lesson in love, like what your title, "you're not bunny till some bunny loves you!" Have you ever read it?