1 Opportunists
What we throw away
is their feast: a slice of bread,
a packet of stale
cream pastries, and crisps
they twitch-finger around, dab
as a cross-stitcher.
Will one day they twig:
dropped money, and bound into
the chip shop, quids in?
2 Foreboding
It has been winter
for years; no, it has happened
before, and it will
happen again when
I'm not. Consciousness and
colour are draining
from what I see: black
from a branch an eye states 'You
have been here too long'.
3 First Day At School
The mother leads her
kit onto dry land - their last
day together. It
sees me and scurries
behind the tree-trunk of my
tan corduroy leg.
I spot it next week
foraging confidently.
Mum is forgotten.
4 Attitudes Of Death
The blood from its snout
is yet to jell. Stiff-stump-armed
it looks scandalized
by some calumny -
'Me? Tree-rat? ' A car swishes
past, leaps it una-
ware: a second pan-
cakes it. Abject, it lies on
its front: 'I give up'.
5 Landlord
Tortie's about. Birds
alarm-hack: adenoids 'Kh-
kh-kh' from on high
and head first, down it
lopes, and circumnavigates
me on the wet grass.
I infer from this
'If you want to picnic here,
you owe me pretzels'.
6 Squirrel's Eye View
You're bizarre squirrels:
you walk on your hinds, and your
front legs catkin, limp.
Your bush is on your
noddle: your eyes are too dull
to catch dawn's chestnut.
You are two species,
vicious and good. It is hard
to tell you apart
I like this! we have gorgeous reds on a reserve nearby and they sometimes come into the garden - such a privilege. regards Angela
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Wow! ! ! ! An amazing observation of smart and lovely squirrel's behaviour to draw analogies for life. The simple words and rhythmic composition seeps the message to the heart. It is a pleasure to read it. Thank you for sharing it. CP