Ostara and the hare
Poetry postcards featuring the myth of the easter rabbit. Inspired by an old tale from Germanic folklore, the story goes that the Goddess of Spring known as Eostre found, a bird with frozen wings and saved it by transforming it into a rabbit, which retained the ability to lay eggs; and that a bird who laid beautiful eggs was so proud that Eostre was irked and turned it into a rabbit, but she was so moved by the rabbit’s despair that she allowed it to lay beautiful eggs once a year. The poem and various cosmic leaping hare illustrations were printed on two-sided postcards and as stand alone square prints.
My take was a comical rhyming couplet rendition.
A bird in plight, a wing hath broke, discovered by Spring goddess folk
Ostara mends the grateful patient, casting spells of transformation
Cocked it up - the incantation, perplexed and vexed this new creation
Wiggled a bobtail ‘Oh my word-the size of these ears!’ exclaimed the bird
‘My gorgeous feathers, my rouge red plume, a hairy life of Haredom doom’
The creature studied each misfeature, keen for answers from its teacher
Thinking hard and on the spot, Ostara hatches out a plot
I’m sure you’ll find this all quite funny, I’ve promoted you to Easter bunny
‘A delicate bird you flew the coop, but even in this form shall poop
Multicoloured rainbow eggs and enjoy these bouncy legs
To deliver far and wide, lovely easter gifts with pride.’
