A friend gave my daughter a rabbit sad and sick
Skinny, dull hair, sad eyes, no step, set to die quick
“Daddy, look, my rabbit with its science diet.”
I looked at the denatured grub and stayed quiet.

Grim eyed, droopy ears, the animal was forlorn
Mournful in its cage as if she swallowed a thorn
If only we had knowledge how to save her soul
Revive her appetite to eat greens in a bowl

We had a wild garden growing out of control
Dandelions, plantains, blackberries, holes and mole
That I never mowed or seasoned it with pesticide
My wife didn’t like it but she learned to abide

In spring the dandelions grew amazingly
Yellow flowers opened to the sun gorgeously
I had an intuition something was afoot
When the rabbit twisted its snout to take a look

The diet to die slighted, I opened the cage
Prayed the rabbit go where the greenery pervades
After an hour the weak rabbit sidled out
Kept its head down like a tortoise and moved about

It found a dandelion with juicy green stalk
Clipped it and began to nibble it like a hawk
When one was devoured it went to another
Savoring with zest like a calf on an udder

Watching the rabbit I felt she was my teacher
Conveying by example she served as preacher
After some time it went back to its cage
Jerked its whiskers to and fro peering like a sage

Day after day dandelions aplenty she ate
progressively grew healthy, peppy with new gait
she became playful, naughty and joyfully bold
It was impossible to catch her fast and hold

Her hair began to shine, eyes brightened, she gained weight
She was cute, full-bodied, frisky, ready to mate
Her appetite opened and her taste buds happy
She ate dandelion leaf, stalk and blackberry

One day she dug and burrowed a hole
Went deeper, deeper under the wall
Without a sign she left behind all
That made my kids regretfully bawl

I received a profound education in nutrition
Green living, medicinal herbs, well-being ambition
I respect the mighty dandelion, flower to root
However, science diet I consider an empty suit.