Question:

Does this tell a story of backwardness wilderness?

by  |  earlier

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Wild Creature

He sits nervously gnawing on a nut

Trying to act cool, unlike those country rodents

That scurry off at the sight of me.

His little nub of a tail flicking about

As if it was the grandest tail in town;

He’s not self-conscious about it at all--

You can tell,

Probably why I like him the most,

Though I feed them all.

He stops his laboring for a moment.

In one of those cuddly little poses

That looks like he’s praying comfortably

(To a dirty old walnut)

He gives me a glance,

At first with just one big brown eye

Then he turns and looks at me with both,

Gives me a silent nod as if to say

“Did you hear that?”

It’s a rhetorical question;

He knows I can’t hear

As well as they do.

Then he stands on his hind legs

Still holding the nut

Stretches his nose

He sniffs, drops the nut

Then grabs the branch with all fours,

He looks back at me.

I smell it too--

That unforgettable musk of a tom

He scurries up the tree

Into his leafy little loft just

As the cat turns the corner.

Somebody should really do something

About that wild creature.

Note: No animals were hurt in the making of this poem, and it's about people, not cats.

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8 ANSWERS


  1. I loved this and it brings back memories of my own watching a squirrel as they eat nuts off the tree! Your description of everything was so perfect! I could see his big brown eyes checking you out!

    Thanks for sharing this!

    Cheers!


  2. I saw the wilderness

    there were animals

    there was a story

    you left out the chipmunks

    I am a chipmunk

    I am faster than a squirrel

    more cunning than a cat

    and nobody ever writes about me.

    life is so unfair

    life is so unkind

    so I'll just watch

    and not make a sound.

  3. I am disappointed...it is not about squirrels and cats! lol  A great story spun about life in a 'wild' setting!  

  4. This is great, a wonderful poetic story in free verse.  The metaphor is wonderful and a lot of fun to read.  I especially love the imagery you created with all the exacting details.  I will have to read this to my family.  I'm certain my boys will love it as much as I do.  

  5. This is a wonderful depiction and I saw it clearly as I read this out loud.

    I'm not sure you needed the explanation...leave some mystery...

    Very nice!  Thanks.

  6. There are 4 squirrels here, 2 live in the front yard trees, and two in the back.  When I feed them raw peanuts, they all 4 come to where I am to catch and eat.  And yes, when the neighbors car gets too close, they scurry up a tree.  Also do that when the other neighbors dog comes over.  I shoo away the "Wild" animals so that George, Gracie, Lonzo, and Oscar can come back down to finish their meal.

  7. Lovely image of squirreldom - their talent to please and entertain with their antics. Love the phrase "like he’s praying comfortably - (To a dirty old walnut)". Thank you ♥

  8. Literature that offends nobody is impossible. This is good.

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