for Tarfia and Fita

             The rabbit has a funny set of tools. He jumps. 
             or kicks. muffled and punching up. In pose 
             the rabbit knows, each side of his face to whom. 
             he should belong. He hobbles and eyes. This 
             is the dumb bun allegiance. This bunny, even dry and fluff 
             is aware, be vicious. will bite down your finger stalk. 
             will nick you good in the cheery web of your palm. 
             Those claws are good for traction. and defense. 
             This bunny, forgive him. There is no ease. His lack 
             of neck is all the senses about a stillness. 
             stuck in a calm. until household numbers upend 
             his floor. until the family upsets the nest 
             and traipses off. Then stuck in a bunny panic.

             We each stab at gratitude. In our nubbing, none 
             of us do well. We jump. We kangaroo. We soft seeming, 
             scatter and gnaw. Maybe the only way forward 
             is to sleep all day. one eye open. under the sink. 
             Like the rabbit, we could sit in our shit. 
             Chew at the leaf of others’ dinner. Make 
             of each tile on the floor a good spot to piss. No, 
             it doesn’t get much better. And like the rabbit 
             we do not jump well from heights. We linger the dark 
             until it is safe to come out. To offer a nose. 
             a cheek for touch. the top of a crown. Nothing 
             makes us happier than another rabbit.

Copyright © 2020 by francine j. harris. Originally published in Poem-a-Day on March 26, 2020, by the Academy of American Poets.