He (she?) is small and tawny, shyly secretive
nocturnal and wild. For all we know it may be
'they' yet we have never seen more than one
at one time. And when on occasion we see that
small lonely figure in the dim light of night
quietly seated on our porch, on the walkway
we wonder how it can withstand the cruel
cold of winter. Alone, what comfort can it
derive from its life? We see the impressions
left in the snow. Not only that of the rabbit
but mice and squirrels. These are our close
neighbours, furtive, always searching a food
source. In these winter months we take care
to put out buttered bread squares, (breakfast
leftovers), peanuts and for him (her, they) carrots
and celery sticks snapped into small pieces at
the back door stoop. The offerings sit there and
freeze but by the morning they are gone. To
feed those out-of-sight but never out of mind.
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