INANIMALS
Human beings say, “It never rains but it pours.” This is not very apt, for it frequently does rain without pouring. The rabbits’ proverb is better expressed. They say, “One cloud feels lonely”: and indeed it is true that the sky will soon be overcast.”
Richard Adams, Watership Down
“I want to think again of dangerous and noble things. I want to be light and frolicsome. I want to be improbable beautiful and afraid of nothing, as though I had wings.�
Mary Oliver, Owls and Other Fantasies: Poems and Essays
“As kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies draw flame;As tumbled over rim in roundy wells”
Gerard Manley Hopkins, As Kingfishers Catch Fire
He worked with a will, beside the thornbush, beneath the oaken tree, he whistled gently, and he sang, as he dug her grave, that old song... shall I sing it for you, now, good folk?�
Neil Gaiman, Ruby Slippers, Golden Tears
“If only, if only,” the woodpecker sighs, “The bark on the tree was as soft as the skies.” While the wolf waits below, hungry and lonely,Crying to the moo-oo-oon,“If only, If only.”
Louis Sachar, Holes
Woodlice “What better hiding place than an old, woodliceridden album of photographs!”
Renita D’Silva, Monsoon Memories
In our minds we tried to pin her to a cork board like a butterfly, but the pin merely went through and away she flew.�
Jerry Spinelli, Stargirl
“Hallo, Rabbit,” he said, “is that you?” “Let’s pretend it isn’t,” said Rabbit, “and see what happens.”
A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh
MMXIII