Beguiled to hike just the other day
‘Cus sun had unfurled an’ the rain is away
For there were trails to catch, on hills to play
I reached for sneaks: found they housed a stray
‘Cus there was squeaking from inside it and as it grew
I said "I've got a scary shoe, man
You know I've got a scary shoe."
Now a-what’s in my tenny? – a bewildered tune
Little must be for to fit in a shoon
Wending want to go, shod, in dale or glen
And see me a canyon wren
I wanna go but then again...
I upturned tongue, thrust it out the way
I peered deep in the ball, dark, could not what say
That had creeped in my shoe; I head outside way
I up-plopped the shoe, then shook: naught did lay
On that walked walkway, unrevealed; me chagrined
Frowned. What’s gonna be within? yeah
I know it’s gonna be quite grim...
Now a-what’s in the tenny; sure there’s nil to fear
Lacings I loosed and within I did peer
Furry looking dark ‘twig’ with claw on end
Starting to suspect it then
I know what is my ‘footwear friend’
Yes I came to knowledge when the bugger see:
Outstretched little fangs; he just glared at me
Saw a scowly face ‘tween ear pointy; hostile
Re-shook the sneak’ but he wasn’t beguiled
What he really like did is re-burrow in far: tease
“Listen Flitter: Can you leave shoe, please?"
‘Cus a bat’s in my tenny it’s inopportune
Talking to shoe: I appear like a loon
"Will you come on out then? Will be dark soon
I need my other shoe bad
I cannot hike with just one shoe!”
Foot’s still unattired; thought I must prove ordeal
My digital thrust into the heel
A photo snapped; ah gee, hope that he don’t mind
Created quite a flash (guess now that bat is blind)
Now how to unstop the pipstrel that has tenanted shoe
‘Cus I’m sure nice talking won’t do that
I cannot prise Squeaky from shoe
And then to pinch on the toe it occurred to me
Then shown himself did he
Did fly up to a tree
No more bat in the tenny and I’m leaving soon
Lyssa* in shoe is not hard to impugn
Start my trip postponed some, by wings within
Not keen to do that again, bat
My shoe was such a good hide, then...
Photo here! * In 1996, a new virus was discovered in Australian bats - identified as a lyssavirus. The virus is a close relative to the common rabies virus. Peregrin says: “V/C nicely, or I’ll bring a couple over to your hemisphere next time I am up that way!”