A ladder to tiny feet,
an escape to the heavens,
a haven on high,
away from canine intrusions,
a place of nooks, crannies,
secret bolt holes and
hidden stores.
Hiding.
A treehouse, a mansion,
another dimension
betwixt earth and sky,
where small critters
can shiver out of icy winds,
escape high above snowdrifts and
listen for the quickening.
Waiting.
A trickle of ice melt,
the scritch-scritch of green shoots,
the drumming surge of resin,
drip, drops of shiny amber,
the burgeoning of buds,
a whisper of unfolding forsythia,
a symphony heard only by tiny ears.
Spring.
Copyright 2016 Brenda Davis Harsham
Note: This poem is my contribution for Poetry Friday, this week hosted thanks to The Miss Rumphius Effect. This photo was taken at Massachusetts Audubon site, Belmont Habitat. You can see gray sky, but not pelting rain. My son observed me taking photos from under my umbrella. He alleged that in filming Singing in the Rain, they had to dye the rain white because it was invisible otherwise. I haven’t confirmed this, but I immediately pictured Gene Kelly completely white after filming, like an angel. Or a plaster saint. I hope you’re warm and dry or at least have a good umbrella. We have our first snow day here this morning. Happy children bounding and bouncing! Warmly, Brenda
What a delightful squirrely poem….sounds like a lot of fun to be had up trees 🙂
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In my formative years, I saw a fat squirrel running away from my dorm with three-quarters of a chocolate donut, and ever after, squirrels are party animals to me. 😉
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I just love that story!! They always make me think of the squirrel in the old Disney film….Sword in the Stone…I loved that movie 🙂
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The squirrels in Sword in the Stone are awesome, especially the old lady squirrel. 🙂
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And the pike….oh I’m going to have to watch it again…..it’s been years!
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“I don’t want the Wart as my squire.” Sir Kay the Magnificent. 🙂
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I enjoyed the various sounds evoked in this lovely poem. Glorious.
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Thank you, Myra!
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It seems to me the squirrels have been more visible this winter. Maybe it’s because of the warm weather. Whatever the reason, I love your poem, with all its “nooks and crannies.” Hope “the scritch-scritch of green shoots” isn’t too far off!
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The only way to survive February is to concentrate on April. 🙂
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Classical – Just beautiful and amazing words – please follow and like my new piano page, I appreciate it https://mihranpiano.wordpress.com
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Great new site!
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And i just had one looking at me through the door! Wonderful writing!
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Hi Mary, they are working hard this time of year. I bought some bird seed, and I expect they will be busy muscling the songbirds out of it soon. 🙂
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So funny, you are so right! We have a foursome that case all kinds of mischievous deeds throughout our yard.
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About a month ago, I had to cut down a giant tree in my backyard, because it was moving the foundation of the garage. The whole time I was cutting the tree down, I kept imagining all the creatures who would not have a home. I was super sad and kept trying to write poetry about it, but never captured it this perfectly. I love “A treehouse, a mansion/another dimension/betwixt earth and sky.” Thanks for sharing this today.
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I’m always sad when trees fall or have to be cut down. I had to take out some diseased hemlocks, but I planted a blue spruce in their place. I planted a weeping cherry, an ornamental pear and a trunkful of lilacs and butterfly bushes. I still have squirrels and now I get butterflies, too. I’m glad you feel I’ve captured it well. My thanks for taking the time to tell me your story. Have a wonderful rest of the weekend.
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I’m “listening for the quickening,” too! The lengthening of days has me yearning for the rising of temperatures!
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I yearn for the flowers to bloom. Every spring is like my own youth returning.
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Stunning. I can feel, smell and see Spring awakening. Beautiful! 😊
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I wish I could see it! All I see this morning is white, winter wild white.
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I can smell Spring in the air…it will come…for sure!
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I will be happy to see, but sad time has gone by so fast. 🙂
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Having never wintered in the northern hemisphere I haven’t experienced the birth of spring in those latitudes. Your poem really made me feel what it must be like. Your photo is terrific too.
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Thanks, Suzanne. I can’t imagine never having experienced spring. It’s quite something.
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We have spring but not the snow melt 🙂
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Snowmelt makes my friend who’s a white water canoer very happy.
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Love it. Safe from dogs…so sweet:) ❤
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Wouldn’t it be great to be able to run up a tree like that?
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Great poem, photo and great little note about Singing In the Rain!! Love it.
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Thanks!
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Just came around to wish you all Happy friday night! I need to rush downstairs as my kitchen is in intense activity right now.
Hugs!
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Happy Friday to you, my friend. We’re baking chocolate chip cookies in honor of our first snow day of the school year. Woo-hoo!
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Love love love your poem. Since we have a LOT of squirrels here, I enjoyed each and every word and image. Yes, those tiny feet and tiny ears! I constantly marvel at their dexterity, tackling vertical surfaces with such ease. Daredevils!
Once had a squirrel named Samuel come daily to the kitchen door for peanuts. I eventually trained him to eat from my hand. Once, instead of a peanut, I had a bit of peanut butter in my palm. His little rough tongue stretched out for a taste, and then he coughed a tiny squirrel cough. I could almost hear him grumbling: “What? Are you trying to choke me?” Never forget it.
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Jama, your words are spring to my ears. I love your story of your fuzzy friend. I only hope he didn’t make your Paddingtons jealous! I love to watch the gyrations of squirrels, except when they scare the songbirds aways from the nyger seed. 🙂
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An amazing photo, complete with interesting back story, sets the stage for your snapshot of squirrel living. One thing that struck me about the looming trunks(?)/ branches(?) is that the 2 largest ones appear to look like twin arms with cupped hands offering up or protecting their furry resident-guests! God bless you for your photo-poetry prowess! Totally professional!
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Thanks, CB, you always leave the best comments! These were trees at a nature preserve, tall and majestic.
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We spend a lot of time watching the squirrels. This was delightful.
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Thanks, Dan. They are getting thinner, aren’t they?
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Not the ones in our trees, my wife is known for tossing stuff out for them to eat. One actually comes up on our porch is she’s late 🙂
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Well, they are prosperous indeed.
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I’m waiting for the one little guy to learn how to knock 🙂
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Maybe you need the right sized door. 🙂
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I wouldn’t mind being a squirrel myself after reading that. Lovely. 🙂
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Thanks, Richard. We’re all a bit nuts. 😉
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Best way 🙂
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