The Man On The Hill

There once lived a man 
on the top of a hill,
with bare kitchen cupboards
and a belly to fill.
He needed some treats
to put in his mouth,
so he put on his boots
and stepped out of the house.

He went for a walk 
and bumped into a rabbit, 
who was sat by his warren
munching a carrot.
“Oh rabbit,” he said 
as he worked out out his fate.
“You'd taste good in a stew 
On my dinner plate.”

“Please sir,” said the rabbit
“I'm not for your knife,
take all my carrots 
and spare me my life.”
“I'll take all those carrots
but leave you with one.”
And he gobbled them up 
before he walked on.

He spotted a squirrel 
gathering up nuts.
“I'll have you for supper,
there's no ifs or buts!”
“But sir,” said the squirrel
“I'm not for your fork,
take all my nuts 
and on you can walk.”

“I'll take up your offer,
but leave you with one.”
Squirrel kindly accepted
and the man then was gone.

As he walked down the path
he heard grunts that were muffled 
of a hard at work pig
who was sniffing out truffles.
“Oh pig you'd look good 
on the end of my stick,
with a plate full of chips
and a barbecue dip.”

“But man,” said the pig
“I'm not for your spit,
please take all my truffles 
and let that be it!”
The man thought a minute
then said, “Oh go on.”
And went on his way 
leaving pig only one.

He then came to a river
and there sat on the bank,
was a dam building beaver
catching fish for his tank.
“Oh yummy,” said man
“You can be for my tea,
you'd be lovely with gravy
and fresh garden peas.”

“Please no!” said the beaver.
“I'm not for the slaughter,
take all my fish 
and cross over the water.”
“Yes! .. I like fish,
so if you don't mind,
I’ll have all the lot,
but I'll leave one behind.”

Later that night at the top of the hill
came a bright shining light
from the mans steaming grill.
The smell of fresh fish 
topped with truffle was lush,
with the scent of the freshly 
dry roasted peanuts.
In a night filled with hush .

The animals rushed 
to the foot of the climb,
and in unison said, 
“That could have been mine!”

They looked at each other
and to their surprise, 
they all had a piece 
of the ultimate prize.
If they all came as one, 
it was easy; 
Make a feast fit for kings
with what man didn't take.