Fun and Vulnerability

1.

Two weeks ago, beneath this tree

Two native lads; fresh and free

Met and play hide-and-seek

Merrily, unaware of terror nor risk.

The little snake sprawling and quick

Trace and jump the rat as it squeak

"Let's be friends and let's be gay."

"Let no tempest end our sway."

"How they sprawl and squeak with fun

How they part to meet at morn"

2.

Trap'd in yon 'ole with mother snake

The noon tale told the little snake.

"Thank your good star for a dine

Those rats are food for your kind."

Meanwhile, rat ranting "jolly friend"

Mother rat did turn a furious fiend:

"Beware! Devil seek aft' your soul,

Beware! Lest you end in his bowl."

3.

And today 'neath the same tree,

A watcher, unobserved and free

For the repeated time I see its end

Foiled and feign, is our snake friend

Should we care to look down the lane

See that our dear rat feign in vain

To pass its waiting terror unobserve

To see its terror cringed our nerve

"Rat! Such a friend and such a day,

Run, let's be friend and let's be gay"

"Keep your fun and death I must say

Keep it I say, for some other prey."

"If your Ma taught you a-killing

I was taught the art of fleeing."

4.

See a christmas fowl for its worth

Say you feed it for love and sort?

By your care, its meat is fat-full

By its fats, your pot is full.

Now devil bargains for your soul

No fun should change your no.