The Hedgehog

The hedgehog is a creature we hardly know or talk about in India, 

esp, in the cities. 

The moment I saw the photos of the adorable pygmy hedgehog, I wanted to know more about them. I checked up about it on the net, it's habits, food etc.....and soon I slipped into rhythm form. My idea was to give some info about the hedgehog thru poem to our kids. 

Jasmin 

The Hedgehog

One day in my garden hedge, I found a funny looking creature,

It had spines and rolled up tight like a ball,

But it was never talked about by my teacher.

I waited for it to unroll, unroll from it's fold,

I waited to see the new face, that even my mother had never told.

I waited and waited, and at last he decided to unroll,

When he knew I wasn't a fox or an owl

he decided to be bold.

His face was cute, like a little hog,

His spines were orange brown like a fallen log.

His size was small like a little ball,

It was "Love at first sight" is all I recall.

He said he and I were similar,

(I wondered if he was trying to get familiar),

"Young ones we do bear,

Warm blood we do share,

But the difference between us, is our hair....

While yours are too fine, my are like spine,

But, we are part of the same family.....Mammals....I swear." 

    

He said  "I can be of very good use to man",

My eyes opened wide and I asked

How do you think you can?

Well....I may be small in size, but small I am.... just in your eyes,

For, when you sleep tight, in your mama's arms at night.

I eat 200 grams of insects daily, so you wont need any pesticide!

Hurray, I said, that's great little friend,

We can happily co-exist

and together we can blend

Into a world of......Togetherness.

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