The Tidy Lad

Once a lad lived in his hole
He took good care of his household
He loved to have many guests
But he did not like any pets
Because he was tidy

One night, he heard a knock
“Is it a relative from Stock?”
It was a rabbit, slim and grey
But the lad shooed it away
Because he was tidy

Other night, he heard a scratch
“Is it the fisher with his catch?”
But a black cat there just lay
So the lad drove it away
Because he was tidy

One night, a bump on the door
“Is it the lass that I adore?”
A squirrel there was, all alone
But the lad groaned 'til it'd gone
Because he was tidy

One day, the lad went to the woods
To gather there some tasty shrooms
Then rose a stormy weather
And the lad seeked shelter
Because he was tidy

He saw a cabin of sturdy wood
“It looks safe, so it will do.”
“I can't get home without any light.”
“Here I will spend my night.”
Because I'm tidy!

On the floor, he found nuts to eat
And a warm, fluffy pillow for sleep
In the fire, two coals glowed warmth
The hobbit felt strange comfort
Even as it wasn't tidy!

When he woke up at the dawn
He heard his pillow moan
It was a rabbit, after all
Friendly too, to keep him warm

Then, he saw a squirrel too
The nuts must've been its food
But it just gave them to the lad
It did not ask anything back

There was no coal in the fireplace
Only a cat with a gloomy gaze
There was nothing to provide warmth
But the cabin did not feel cold

Now the lad opens up his door
To every animal, big and small
They're his very greatest friends
He admires their unselfishness
Even as they are untidy!