Donations are essential to keep Write Out Loud going    

lament for a dead badger

entry picture

 

There’s a badger on the road

pushed into the verge

lying in a puddle

getting rather nibbled

his fancy coat is raddled

all snarled up by the rain

 

Each time as I approach him

I seem to see him stand up

shake himself in puzzlement

get up and run away

 

If I lived close by him

I’d take him and I’d bury him

I’ll have to phone the council

get on to Environmental

tell them there’s a badger

lying outside Ferndale

he’s rotting and he’s waiting

for a decent badger burial

poor abandoned badger

lying lonely by the road.

 

 

◄ a nonpareil

museum diary ►

Comments

Profile image

Graham Eccles

Thu 24th Feb 2011 05:56

Be not sad for the badger, but be glad of his life, and the food for the crows and insects.
the sad thing is he was probably shot by a TB scared farmer and laid next to the road so it looked like he had been hit by a car. I hope not, but it is quite a commonly done thing.
Having hitched for many years and travelled the roads slower than most, i have seen lots of roadkill close at hand, and found 3 badgers in about 100 yards once. It sickened me, but also opened my eyes to the ways of some farmers.

Profile image

John Aikman

Tue 22nd Feb 2011 22:07

High poetry here...puddle nibbled raddled..snarled. Lying, rotting waiting.

The last four lines...well, four and a half, would make a perfectly decent poem on their own...

there’s a badger
lying outside Ferndale
he’s rotting and he’s waiting
for a decent badger burial
poor abandoned badger
lying lonely by the road.

But, the first verse is just as good...

There’s a badger on the road
pushed into the verge
lying in a puddle
getting rather nibbled
his fancy coat is raddled
all snarled up by the rain

Fab, triff, neatness in a sad soggy bundle.

Dead lovely.

Jx


Philipos

Tue 22nd Feb 2011 19:46

Hi Ann - know how feel about the badger and I do see the bones of an odd one or two on common land either victim of a fox (doubtful) or natural causes - I learnt a new word today 'raddled' always like that about a poem. We are always so sentimental about such creatures and yet nature just recycles in the interests of hygiene x

Profile image

Ann Foxglove

Tue 22nd Feb 2011 18:45

Today he is gone. RIP.

Profile image

Cynthia Buell Thomas

Mon 21st Feb 2011 11:46

This is good, Ann, simple and engaging with your own personal touch of imagination. I remember you mentioned a dead badger a few days ago, after 'the dead pheasant' palaver.

Profile image

Dave Bradley

Mon 21st Feb 2011 09:43

I've spent time in North Wales recently and saw quite a few dead badgers by the road. I suppose it means there's a healthy population if an unusually high number are being killed. But that doesn't take away from the poignancy of the fate of just one, which your poem captures well.

If you wish to post a comment you must login.

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

Find out more Hide this message