A City Eats My Home

• Mitchell Robinson, Grade 3
• Poetry
• 2009

One day when I was gathering nuts
I scampered over the forest floor and to my shock and surprise I lost my claw.
My paw was caught in a shiny steel trap and the pain and the blood made me collapse.
Why were these men who wanted me gone, away from home, away from Bollygum?
A beautiful orange butterfly fluttered around my sore paw,
almost trying to soothe and take away my pain.
I almost didn't even feel the light rain.
A bower bird hopped nearby and tried to open the ugly steel trap, he pecked and he bit and eventually I was free.
Bollygum the forest, was paradise for me, the men who were clearing it were real mean.
The city was growing and taking over our homes,
We were powerless because we were animals fighting alone.