War of the Foxes Richard Siken

1

Two rabbits were chased by a fox, of all the crazy shit in the world, and the fox kept
up the chase, circling the world until the world caught up with them in some bro-
ken-down downtown metropolis. Inside the warren, the rabbits think fast. Pip
touches the only other rabbit listening.

Pip: We're doomed.
Flip: We're not.
Pip: Are you sure?
Flip: Yes. Here, hide inside me.

This is the story of Pip and Flip, the bunny twins. We say that once there were two
and now there is only one. When the fox sees Pip run past, he won't know that the
one is inside the other. He'll think, Well, there's at least one more rabbit in that war-
ren. But no one's left. You know this and I know this. Together we trace out the trail
away from doom. There isn't hope, there is a trail. I follow you.

When a rabbit meets a rabbit, one takes the time to tell the other this story. The
rabbits then agree the must be two rabbits, at least two rabbits, and that in turn
there is a trace. I am only repeating what I heard. This is one love. There are many
loves but only one war.

Bird 1: This is the same story.
Bird 2: No, this is the rest of the story.