My parents and their siblings and ancestors had to find entertainments in small things. Some of them made music, some danced, and all could recite reams of poetry. The following little poem was one favorite of my Aunt Peg, which her daughters recall hearing often. It is a lesson in kindness from a more gentle time.
The Silver Rabbit
This little poem was transcribed from her own handwritten copy,
But, it’s original author is not identified….Perhaps it’s the Rabbit himself…
There was once a rabbit with silver fur,
Her little grey neighbors looked up to her,
Till she thought with pride in the starlit wood,
The reason I’m white is because I’m good.
“Oh, dear, oh, Dear,” said a tiny mole,
A fairy has tumbled into a hole.
“It’s full of water and slimy things,
And she can’t get out ‘cause she’s lost her wings.”
“Oh, darling white rabbit, your arms are long,
They say you are good and I know you are strong;
Won’t you help the fairy get out of the hole?
If not, she may die,” said the tiny mole.
“Don’t tell me about it,” the rabbit said,
She shut up her eyes and her ears grew red.
“There’s plenty of mud and it’s sure to stick
Because my fur is so long and thick.”
A little grey rabbit jumped up from the gorse,
“I’m not very strong, but I’ll try, of course.”
His little tail bobbed as he waded in,
The muddy water right up to his chin!
But, he caught the fairy right by the hand,
And he led her off safely to fairy land.
And she kissed him first on his muddy nose,
She kissed his ears and his little wet toes.
And before day dawned in the early light,
That little grey rabbit was shiny white.
I went online to see if I could find a source/author. I did not, but did find this slightly different version with the following label:
Untitiled Poem found in play by G.A.
There was once a rabbit with silver fur,
Her little grey neighbors looked up at her,
‘Till she thought with pride in the moonlit wood,
“The reason I’m white is because I’m good.”
“Oh what shall I do!” cried a tiny mole,
“A fairy has stumbled into a hole.
It is full of water and crawly things,
And she can’t get out for she’s hurt her wings.
“I did my best to catch hold of her hair,
But my arms are short and she’s still in there.
Oh, darling white rabbit, your arms are long.
You say your good, and I know you’re strong.”
“Don’t tell me about it!” The rabbit said.
She shut up her eyes, and her ears grew red.
“There’s lots of mud, and it’s sure to stick,
Because my fur is so long and thick.”
“There’s plenty of water,” the wee mole cried.
“There are shining rivers from moorlands wide.
Dews from the sky and the dear grey rain,
And the fairy to kiss you clean again.”
“Oh dear! Oh dear!” sobbed the poor little mole,
“Who will help the fairy out of the hole?”
A common grey rabbit popped from the gorse:
“I’m not very strong, but I’ll try of course.”
His little tail bobbed as he waded in;
The muddy water came up to his chin,
Then he caught the fairy tight by the hand
And sent her off safe into fairy land.
But she kissed him first on his muddy nose;
She kissed his face and his little wet toes,
And when the day dawned with the early light,
The dirty grey rabbit was shining white.