A little allegory of the soul

- It's Evelyn.
- Oh, God.
   Prof. Ashford?
   Oh, God.
- I'm in town visiting my great-grandson... Who is celebrating his fifth birthday.
   I went to see you in your office... and they directed me here.
   I've been walking all over town.
   I'd forgotten how early it gets chilly here.
- I feel so bad.
- Yes, I know you do. I can see.
   Oh, dear.
   There, there.
   There, there.
   There, there, Vivian.
   It's a windy day.
   Don't worry, dear.
   Let's see.
   Shall I recite something to you?
   Would you like that?
   I'll recite something by Donne.

- No.
- Very well. Let's see...

The Runaway Bunny, by Margaret Wise Brown.
Pictures by Clement Hurd.
Copyright, First Harper Trophy edition

'Once there was a little bunny
who wanted to run away...
So he said to his mother,
'I'm running away.'

'lf you run away,' said his mother...
'I will run after you.
'or you are my little bunny.'
'lf you run after me,'
said the little bunny...
'I will become a fish in a trout stream...
and I will swim away from you.'
'lf you become a fish in a trout stream,'
said his mother...
'I will become a fisherman,
and I will fish for you.'

Look at that.
A little allegory of the soul.
Wherever it hides, God will find it.
See, Vivian?

'lf you become a fisherman,'
said the little bunny...
'I will be a bird and fly away from you.'
'lf you become a bird
and fly away from me,' said his mother...
'I will be a tree
that you come home to.'

Very clever.

'Shucks,' said the little bunny.
'I might just as well stay where I am...
and be your little bunny.'
And so he did.
'Have a carrot,' said the mother bunny."

Wonderful.
Time to go.

"And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest."