On a mossy spot
In a wooded grove
The Squirrel found the Rabbit
As was their routine
They'd meet while gathering
Nuts and clover and soft bedding
For their homes
The Squirrel up in the tree
The Rabbit in a burrow down below
And whilst they gathered
They'd talk about things
Like why the birds
Sang so blasted early
In the morning
And why the Bucks fought
Racks colliding
The sound crashing throughout
The stillness of the forest
And The Rabbit talked about his wife
She had a soft and white belly
It fed their babies
It kept them warm
And kept him warm when they slept
The Squirrel was solitary
Other Squirrels would tsk and say
He was stuck in his ways
But the Rabbit never judged
And the Squirrel loved him
Even though the Rabbit didn't know
So today on the mossy spot
In the wooded grove
The Squirrel was surprised to see
The Rabbit was crying
Not snacking on clover
Or looking for a shiny stone
To take to his beloved
My friend, what's wrong?
The Squirrel asked the Rabbit
Quite concerned by the Rabbit's tears
And the Rabbit looked up and said
She's gone
My beautiful wife has passed on
To the field of wildflowers above
And I don't know if I can go on
The Squirrel rushed over to sit
By his friend's side as he wept
There was nothing to say
No words he could summon
To take away the Rabbit's pain
And he said as much
In his awkward way
Feeling as though it was inadequate
For he had never loved
The way the Rabbit had loved her
Except of course
That he knew he loved the Rabbit
Here, he said
Use my tail to wipe your tears
You can bury your face in the fur
It may not be as soft as hers
But you can close your eyes
And pretend
It's quite alright
I'm happy to stay right here
As long as you want
And so every day after that
On the mossy spot
In the wooded grove
The Squirrel and the Rabbit would sit
Instead of snacking on clover
And gathering nuts or soft bedding
In the quiet of the forest
As the birds sang up above
The Squirrel would lend his tail
For the Rabbit to hold
To bury his face in and to pretend
That his beloved was there
And in this way
The Squirrel honored her memory
And took serious his friend's grief
Because there are times
When all a friend needs is
Understanding
Compassion
And a soft place to shed their tears
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~