The 1988 rabbit

Flash back to the 1988 rabbit
me and flatmate Harriet
found when finally clearing the
overgrown garden
a catastrophic ecosystem unto itself
which our landlady
had demanded we tame or tidy

We'd seen a notice on a local lamppost
'Lost Rabbit Louis' a photocopied photo
like they don't all look the same - no
need for leporine phobia

Harriet exclaimed 'This is Louis, look!'
he seemed happy enough mooching about our
dense bosky thicket
our witchy wigwam atrocity
pink nose of legend atwitch

Harriet cuddled and cupped our
tame discovery and we returned him
to the address on the poster

A little girl opened the door, looked at
rabbit, took rabbit
slammed the door in
our good deed faces
without a word

We joked maybe it wasn't even hers
maybe it was her birthday and
thought we were bringing gifts
from the Rabbit Delivery Society

The we walked back 'home'. This
fucking garden won't tame or tidy itself