A Rabbit With Eggs?

From long ago in Europe

The rabbit reigned as king

Of fertility and family

Reproduction in the spring

And in the Mediterranean

T’was eggs they dyed bright red

The seed of all creation

Baked into a woven bread

Another Euro custom was

The gift of almond candy

To remind us of the sweetness

That a love of family can be

Fertility was paramount

For farmers to survive

And the breaking of the eggs

A prayer, next year they’d be alive

And for all of us who do reside

Above the mid of earth

The celebration was of spring

When grass takes on rebirth

From the teachings of the Christians

Spring was set as Easter time

When Jesus rose from death of tomb

Eternal life for all mankind

So the Rabbit places colored eggs

Into a basket woven

Upon a bed of bright green grass

With candies by the dozen

And families join to celebrate

The bond that they do share

We dress for spring in brand new things

And go to church to show we care

When we mix up all these customs

Into a single day

We get this holiday anew

That we call Easter Day

Sherry Gail Heim

April 11, 2004

Copyright © Sherry Gail Heim 2004