Advice: A Book of Poems

<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</SPAN></span> <h2 class="nobreak">RATTLESNAKE MOUNTAIN FABLE I</h2> <div class="poetry-container"> <div class="poetry"> <div class="verse">Rounded to a wide eyed clownishness</div> <div class="verse">Crowned by the shifting bravado</div> <div class="verse">Of his long, brown ears,</div> <div class="verse">The rabbit peeked at the sky.</div> <div class="verse">To him, the sky seemed an angelic</div> <div class="verse">Pasture stripped to phantom tranquility,</div> <div class="verse">Where one could nibble thoughtfully.</div> <div class="verse">He longed to leave his mild furtiveness</div> <div class="verse">And speak to a boldness puzzled by his flesh.</div> <div class="verse">With one long circle of despairing grace</div> <div class="verse">He flashed into the air,</div> <div class="verse">Leaping toward his heaven.</div> <div class="verse">But down he crashed against a snake</div> <div class="verse">Who ate him with a meditative interest.</div> <div class="verse">From that day on the snake was filled</div> <div class="verse">With little, meek whispers of concern.</div> <div class="verse">The crushed and peaceful rabbit&#8217;s dream</div> <div class="verse">Cast a groping hush upon his blood.</div> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</SPAN></span> <div class="verse">He curled inertly on a rock,</div> <div class="verse">In cryptic, wilted savageness.</div> <div class="verse">In the end, his dry, grey body</div> <div class="verse">Was scattered out upon the rock,</div> <div class="verse">Like a story that could not be told.</div> </div></div> <hr class="chap" /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />