rhetorical question to make the reader think about his/her actions towards the plant / nature

it's too late to do anything

They are shocked- metaphorically – ironic – they can’t do anything. They are ‘reaping’ the consequences they have ‘sowed’.

to show / to highlight the control people had on the rabbit

Slows down the pace. Control contrasts with the chaos earlier on.

'you' refers to man kind

hyperbole to make the reader feel like they are ones to be blamed

'go home' - repetition

The poet is saying to the people to go home, as the rabbit is nowhere in sight, however he also mentions 'for today' meaning that the rabbit might be found later on and the people might be able to go back to see it. Brownjohn also tells the people to 'do something' and although he might be referring to the people doing something valuable with there time, he might also be referring do something about the situation that has gotten them in this 'trouble'

Personification – the rabbit is sad because he is the only rabbit / people are going to come and find him – ‘even under the earth’. He has no hope.

The rabbit pities mankind

perspective change - rabbit's soliloquy

'Bound to come'

'longing' - the people are very exited to see the rabbit which to many nowadays a rabbit is a common animal / pet

people are treating going to see this rabbit as an exhibition

Enjambment - to show the speed and chaos of the situation in the crowd / atmosphere

Literal meaning – the rabbit disappeared.

Metaphorical- something has gone wrong with the world.

- Dash - to show a change of mood which is negative, and to include reflection

people are angry because the rabbit has gone

people have travelled from all over the country just for this rabbit to suddenly disappear

'the' shows that the rabbit is a specific one, and not just one that can be found in the countryside

This verse is not only the title of the poem, but the poet decide to open with it and repeats it frequently throughout to remind the reader what they are going to do

Where the rabbit is kept

Effect of industrialisation

Modes to transport

List, showing that to get to the rabbit one has to travel far

"and the last 10 yards we shall have to go on foot"