Trickster came a'calling to find a totem here
To teach the foolish heart of man
Without installing fear.
Many came and many went and still the trickster paused;
Bear and cat and tiger tried but had too many claws.
Dog and wolf though wise indeed
Had teeth t'were quite a fright
And owl with his tawny eyes could only see at night.
"no," the trickster said at last
"teachers, i see many.
But my way is full of laughter and in you i see not any."
But beneath the tree where eagle sat
Coyote told the tale
Of silly hares cavorting
In the old country of wales.
Raven stared unto the sun
And crow sang awful songs
And rabbit sat a'listening
With ears so wondrous long.
"aha!" the trickster danced a dance
Of mirth and vict'ry sweet.
He leapt with joy and swooped a swoop
And landed at their feet.
"of all here now," the trickster said
"you are the very beasts!"
And rabbit said, "i'm sorry sir
But of all, we are the least."
The trickster smiled and raised a hand
And spoke: "i have a plan
The four of you shall help me
To teach the heart of man.
Raven with your love of light
The sun you'll steal and soon.
For the gift of warmth i give to man
To be the greatest boon.
And crow, you silly creature
Who sings without a voice,
Teach man `bout pride and helping
You really have no choice.
Coyote my friend, together we'll spin
Many a tale at night,
And show man by our naughtiness
What really should be right."
At last he turned to rabbit
With a twinkle in his eye
"you'll be my favorite creature
And here's the reason why:
Your eyes are bright, your feet are swift
Your ears hear round the bend
But your very simple humbleness
Will steal the heart of men.
Together we shall thwart the pains
The gods do throw to earth
And turn aside their fiery darts
With merriment and mirth.
And when time comes that men forget
The lessons animals render
T'will be the humble rabbit
That mankind will remember."
And round the trickster the animals thronged
The birds and all the beasts
And humbly bowed to the king they found,
Who thought himself "the least."
