On the way back from Tring through Ashridge Forest

Mysteriously
a mildly mannered mouse
managed to run
across the road in front of us
the lights just didn’t stun
he ran like the clappers
his little legs on fire
going somewhere in a hurry
clearly a live wire
He had his brand new suit on
Mohair let us say
looking very dapper
in a kind of mousy way
clearly he was off to see
a really special date
and clearly taking chances
perhaps he was running late
hoping to see his “minnie”
down some dark hole somewhere
lets hope he made it safely
because he seemed to care
not far down the path we saw
a fox his bushy tail
his flash of red upon us
though his eyes looked very pale
he turned round in a thicket
head down and he was gone
picked out in the headlights
as if the moon had shone
onwards towards Gaddesden
on the Aldbury road
a gang of doe’s
did tentatively show their heels
one knows
when Deers are on the razzle
hoping to have fun
clad in winter wonderland
enjoying a run
the sights and sounds
of Ashridge
a forest near to where
we live a heavenly underworld
where earthlings are aware
of all the cars a coming
of all the lorries too
trundling through their sacred space
as humanity can do
the darkness closes pictures
we might see in the day
but night time in the forest
is magical and may
open your eyes to wonders
the wild folk how they share
the myriad of trees and bushes
they know each one that’s there
because we live in concrete boxes
often we forget
the wild ones live outside all year
in their warrens in their sett
in their earth’s and in their nests may be
clearly they are wise
for freedom is the key word here
which should be no surprise