THE LITTLE HEDGEHOG

The little hedgehog liked to play
In roads upon a summer’s day -
Which wasn’t really all that wise,
And sadly led to its demise.

For being just a trifle young
It didn’t know this rule of thumb:
That what seems small a long way off
On closer sight is big and tough.

So when the lorry curved the bend
And beeped and flashed its lights no end,
The hedgehog - looking up with glee -
Shrieked, ‘That thing is saying ‘Hello!’ to me!’

And feeling proud it took a turn
(There wasn’t really time to learn)
Across the tarmac stretching wide
(It should have stayed close to the side.)

‘I’m here!’ it screamed, ‘I like your style!’
And with a screech it stretched a smile -
‘Let’s get together, you and me,
I feel we have this destiny!’

The lorry roared, it changed a gear,
The hedgehog felt a twinge of fear,
But being brave it held its head
And stood up straight and tall instead.

‘Hurray! Hurray!’ it yelled and cheered
(The watching magpies simply jeered)
‘You’re big! You’re great! I cannot wait!’ -
But by that time ‘twas far too late.

With thirteen wheels on either side
And forty tons out for the ride
The lorry hardly made a bump
In squashing out that hedgehog lump.

And as each wheel rolled hedgehog thinner,
The magpies said goodbye to dinner,
And flew away to wipe their eyes
On buttercups, with heart-felt sighs.

But hedgehog, floating high and free,
Seeing that mess that ‘Once was me’,
Choked the strangest sorrow down,
And mused on life with one sad frown.

‘Tis odd,’ it sighed, ‘That now I’m dead
And have no need for that flat head,
I’ve figured out the strangest thought,
Which goes against all I’ve been taught.’

‘And this is it: that I’m still here -
And also seem to have no fear :
This really is a great surprise ,
The things that happen when one dies!’

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