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Jun 22
poem
ZoeBee

To be a rabbit

I wait for a day where I am not seen as prey
I stitch this message into fuzz that wafts from my warren
Tuft floats away into the ether
A bird calls me back to the raccoon sniffing at my front door
Pointing fat grey fingers, barging in
"So you don't want to be a rabbit?"
My home is warm and cozy
My life is spent wandering meadows and eating fresh fruit
When I am tired, I sleep
When I am hungry, I eat
"I want to be a rabbit
But I do not want to be your prey"
The raccoon grumble-groans, beady eyes rolling towards the den's packed ceiling
"That isn't the way the world works
If you don't want to be prey
You are predator"
I don't want to hunt rabbits
To turn blind to the trembles that follow my footsteps
Sit with the other beasts of the wood and watch chickadees compete for our favor
I don't want to shed my paws for talons, my nibbling teeth for a sharp maw
"I don't want to be a predator
I don't want to be prey
I want to be a rabbit."
He stoops to look me in the eye
"That's not how the world works"
I stoop to bring his gaze lower
"It is today"

 
  • ZoeBee's blog
  • Sprout
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Posted: 06.22.22
About the Author: ZoeBee
Zoe
MSG / CONTACT
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Discussion

Comments

  1. [email protected]
    Jun 23, 2022

    Masterful take down, ZoeBee! I love this!

    YWP Executive Director
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  1. ZoeBee
    Jun 23, 2022

    Thank you!

    Zoe

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YWP is a creative, online community of teen writers and visual artists. We're based in Burlington, VT, and we welcome young creators from anywhere!
Young Writers Project | 47 Maple St., Suite 216 | Burlington, VT 05401
501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 2006
Contact: Susan Reid, Executive Director: [email protected]; (802) 324-9538