(i)
To ease us
Through those difficult days
At hand to tease out
Waifs and strays
Though causing pain
We squeeze you again
And again. Vain? Not really
More a fear of the unruly
If you wish to borrow mine
Simply repeat the opening line.
(ii)
A rat (black) rattles across the floor
A cross (red) daubed upon the door.
A bell (muffled) rung in the early dawn
A grave (deep) dug far away from town.
A tumbril (full) trundles down the lane
Tomorrow (and tomorrow) it will trundle again.
People avoid me like the plague
What am I?