one less rabbit in the garden

there was a garden

beside

the air conditioner unit,

next to the hose,

and the electric

meter

box.

a small square of soil

where

he planted tomatoes

and peppers,

lettuce.

i'd find him there

in the spring,

knees in the wet

dirt,

deep in thought.

and despite the wire fence

the rabbits

by mid-summer

found a way in.

a fat brown and three

little friends.

we never asked him

where

the meat came from

when he made paella.

we knew.