Thursday, March 01, 2012

The Mad March Hare

The Hare Mycomusicologist Clock (from The Hermitage)



I always wondered where the idea for the Mad March Hare came from and I guess it's something to do with their rather abnormal, or should we say, over zealous, mating behaviour in March; behaviour that is out of the ordinary (I mean, do Hare's box with each other at any other time?!!!).  Anyway, I never knew where the phrase 'hare lip' came from and always assumed it was named after the Dr who devised the surgery to correct it, or something like that..but I prefer this old legend that talks about the Hare in the moon
and the moon in anger, heating a stone that then burned the Hare's mouth, causing like Shakespeare's Flibbertigibbet a 'hare lip'. 
"This is the foul fiend Flibbertigibbet: he begins

at curfew, and walks till the first cock; he gives

the web and the pin, squints the eye, and makes the

hare-lip; mildews the white wheat, and hurts the

poor creature of earth."

King Lear | Act III, scene IV


and to end, a poem by Walter de la Mare
In the black furror of a field
I saw an old witch-hare this night;
And she cocked a lissome ear,
And she eyed the moon so bright,
And she nibbled of the green;
And I whispered "Whsst! witch-hare,"
Away like a ghostie o’er the field
She fled, and left the moonlight there.on hare witchery...

Wishing you all a happy and mad March...

1 comment:

  1. With such beautiful poetry its out of place to answer your questions: female hare's are only in-season for a few days and have to fight off amorous suitors, having mated or not in season. Hair lip cheiloschisis early Dr.'s described the facial appearance of like having a hair drawn across the face.
    Lets keep to the poetry

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