Sophy was sweet and Sophy was a good girl And Sophy was the warm earth where the rabbits hide Away from danger, letting their hearts go slow, But you couldn’t stay with Sophy, you couldn’t stay, And she’d say she’d be a good girl⁠— but, in spite of himself, He saw a big boy tearing a cardboard box Apart, with greedy hands, in a bare school-yard, Where a Shippy whimpered⁠— “Oh, Soph, I’ll get you the scent, Honest I will! Oh God, just let me get through, Just this one time⁠—and I’ll pray⁠—I’ll be good⁠—oh God, Make these papers something they want!”

He clucked to his mules. Another mile and he’d be out on the pike And pretty safe for a while. His spirit returned To building the super-Shippy from dust again. His head began to nod with the sway of the cart.⁠ ⁠…