By Finn Janssen
After "Rathers" by Mary Austin
I know very well what I’d rather be
if I didn’t always have to be me!
I’d rather be a Pomeranian,
a fluffy, soft Pomeranian,
a yippie-yappy, happy flappy
kind-eyed Pomeranian,
in a soft fluffy bed I’d bury my head,
I’d eat my dinner from a clean, shiny bowl,
running with my doggie friends,
if I were a yippie-yappy, happy flappy
kind-eyed Pomeranian,
and didn’t always have to be me!
I know very well what I’d like to do
if I didn’t have to do what I do!
I’d go and be a black panther
a sneaking, creeping, furry black panther
deep in the wet, flooded rainforest
on a hidden tree branch.
I’d never have to zoom in a single room,
ruling the rainforest splashing in the waters,
if I only had to do what I like to do
and didn’t always have to be me.
Or I might be a parrot
a colorful parrot
a chatting, flapping parrot
smart and ever watchful
I would sit to the side and take it all in.
But if I were an exotic animal vet
a smart caring vet—I’d like to be a vet—
I’d have a bag full of tools.
Happily I would come
to heal a sick, tired Pomeranian.
Wisely I would creep into rainforest to care
for the injured black panther.
I’d care for the scratchy tired voice
of the over-talked parrot,
if he once met up with me.