The Serpent and the hare

The Hare was well aware

Serpent by Timothy Dykes (Unsplash)

Of the intent of the Serpent

But they went everywhere

Together, to gather food

In the woods and savannas

Voles, roots, leaves, nuts or bananas

One day the pair picked a speckled egg

Goose, eagle or egret’s, no time to check

We share everything, don’t we, said Hare

Hare by Mike Lewinski (Unsplash)

I’ll therefore take the inside and you the outside.

What can be more fair, I do declare said the snake

No wonder a perfect partnership the two of us make

So Master Hare, deftly he cracked the egg on his front leg

And without further ado smacked his lips and swallowed his share

Whereupon Serpent seized his compeer by the ear

Saying, By our bargain we must abide with pride

And in one quick gulp Serpent swallowed hare

Who was now outside with the egg inside