Rabbit

A rabbit ran out from the rocks

and looked up. 

Bright eyes caught in the glare

of my headlights.

I swerved and braked.

Probably should have done one or the other.

Should have made a choice.

There's hindsight for you.

Did I hit it? 

Don't know.

But was only a rabbit,

a little furry thing

with big ears.

Insignificant.

I drove on.

Poor little furry thing.

It might be lying there stunned.

The next car up would run over it.

Finish it off.

OK, not much traffic going up here 

at two o'clock in the morning.

But something has to be next

and before too long.

Should I turn round and check…

No, it's only a rabbit,

drive on.

But perhaps it was a mother rabbit.

All the baby rabbits would be 

waiting for her return, 

whimpering, crying,

not knowing yet that they

were going to starve 

to death.

And it was my fault,

my responsibly,

the death of all those baby rabbits.

Where's safe to turn?

I know! 

The garage.

There it is. 

Sheesh..

That did my tyres no good!

Here I go 

back 

to the scene.

Stop. 

Get out the car. 

Walk back

in the dark, 

no torch, 

of course,

searching.

There it is,

one dead rabbit,

ears sticking up.

Squashed.

Ah well, in the midst of life

and all that.

Back in the car.

Off up the hill.

Nice glass of red waiting

for when I get home.

Straight up the hill.

And then..

A rabbit ran out from the rocks.

A furry bundle with big ears

and a white tail.

I caught it's frightened eyes 

in the glare of my headlights,

braked and swerved.

Another squashed rabbit.

Was probably the dad.

First published in Scarlet Leaf Review, August 2016

http://www.scarletleafreview.com/poemsaug2016/category/lynn-white