more than crisp, tangy, full-bodied oxygen
that pinches the nostrils blushing red
that pumps the legs running for feverish heat
Perhaps the grey squirrels know the answer
as they cavort energetically up & down bare trees
As lusty as young men romping for a morning
delight as one female squirrel goes into heat
She sits at the top edge of treetop, waiting to see
who amongst her suitors will prevail & giving
chase along the way, the mating season begins
The dregs shake with earnest, twigs falling on ice
Signalling the changing season, that spring
will come with birthing of young, tender creatures
each one, beautiful
as a snowflake.
snowflake photography by Alexey Kljatov
~0~0~
Posted for D'verse Poets Pub - Seasonal poem (Winter for me) Hosted by Marina Sofia~ I took a fun and light approach to winter after seeing all the racket the squirrels made in our backyard ~ Thanks for the visit ~
oh i love squirrels - you just don't see them so much over here - wish we had some in the backyard - and good if there's a little heat in this cold season..smiles... cannot wait until spring spreads its blue band with all the new life coming to birth
ReplyDeleteawe, cute. bunches of squirrels and wild rabbits are always on the roam around my way... really dug the metaphor, "As lusty as young men romping for a morning delight" heheheh
ReplyDeletehaha i love your description of the squirrels...they are a fav animal of mine...and even across species men dont change much....lol...oy, clambering over ourselves trying to be hers...
ReplyDeleteThey have not started here yet.. we have beautiful red squirrels in our garden.. but they start much later..
ReplyDeleteDear Grace
ReplyDeleteI love the start: There is something in the winter air....
Just a wonderful sentence...
Hugs
JetteMajken
You've done lots of watching..it's powerful to observe busy squirrels...spring'll come in blink of eye if we get ourselves inspired and busy....
ReplyDeleteSquirrels are sure fun to watch, the cats think so too. Nothing wrong with a little romp either lol
ReplyDeletebetween our tom cat & the neighbor's Jack Russell terrier, squirrels have to be careful not become victims. The neighbor has a 200 year old maple tree that houses squads of gray squirrels though, & they keep the mutt jumping, while our cat sits & daydreams of squirrel pie.
ReplyDeleteVery nice close observation of squirrel manners... there are a few startling images here which caught my attention: pinches the nostrils blushing red, the dregs shake with earnest, beautiful as a snowflake.
ReplyDeleteBut surely it's too early for them in your part of the world?
I have seen them cavorting during the weekend and its right about the time here, smiles ~
Deletedo like that little squirrel and the hope it brings
ReplyDeleteI love those squirrel chases. In the hardwood forests around my home, they are incredibly noisy running through the woods, fussing and squabbling for position in the squirrel hierarchy, for the right to procreate as the fittest.
ReplyDeleteNature's re-birth can't come too soon!
ReplyDeleteLovely! There is an amusing feel to your words. I like how you follow the squirrels in your images and wait for the spring's birth. :-)
ReplyDelete-HA
This made me smile and reminded me of all there is to look forward too... Though I am always chasing the squirrels away because we have an outdoor cat. They are funny creatures though, you can't help but laugh at their antics.
ReplyDeleteOh Grace, this is beautiful and funny and hits the spot, right on!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a cheerful poem. Looking forward to the baby squirrels and Spring.
ReplyDeleteThis could describe my backyard yesterday after our major snowfall....squirrels galore. I thought they were just excited for the snow...guess I know better now!
ReplyDeleteI have not seen squirrels for a while. I love how they run and stop on grass and up trees. I do hope they herald the coming of spring and warmer weather.
ReplyDeleteOh, I love to watch squirrels busily romping. I hope those in this area are surviving the snow.I can hardly wait until spring & a time of birth for squirrels and other creatures.
ReplyDeleteAh.. the mating tangle of the squirrel as unique and beautiful as snowflake created by a way of creativity that generates unique through every fiber of Nature that creates non like..alike.:)
ReplyDeleteYour glimpse into the life of squirrels is delightful
ReplyDeleteThe dormancy of winter sometimes causes us to forget what's going on under all the cold soil and in snow laden trees, constant evolving and soon, we will forget how cold winter can be...well almost..;0
ReplyDeleteSo delightful and lovely....!
ReplyDeleteI have always loved watching squirrels. They are such gentle creatures and they always seem to exude happiness.
ReplyDeleteYou caught rightfully the goodness of spring as taking activities along a clear path of fulfillment. Good one Grace!
ReplyDeleteHank
Beautiful poem about life sprucing up from among the winter's ashes Grace! Really enjoyed reading this one.
ReplyDeleteSuch a hopeful poem!
ReplyDeleteWe had red squirrels this year. Either this was a first for us, or I just finally stopped long enough to pay attention. Have a wonderful week and thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteElsie
I love the way that you have sketched between the lines in this piece: so beautiful - exquisite, even and yet with the lightest touch of whimsy.
ReplyDeleteguess you could call them the f*ing squirrels, for all the clatter :) ~
ReplyDeleteExquisite Grace! Love the snow flake picture too.
ReplyDeleteI saw a squirrel a few days ago (it became a rare sight around here) and your beautiful poem just reminded me of that. You're capturing the season right now amazingly. I really love it. And that snow flake picture is great, too!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful weekend!
I especially like the first two couplets and your rhyme throughout. Nice seasonal capture, Grace.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty poem. I think we all need some thing like this to read, in such a slow day of winter with tons of snow in the forecast.
ReplyDeletewriting a couplets is a challenge.
ReplyDeletehttp://promisingpoetsparkinglot.blogspot.com/2015/02/hyde-park-poetry-palace-thursdy-poets.html
ReplyDeletecome on in, share a poem and read others. poets rally miss you a lot.
Lovely poem, Grace, and I like the touch of humor. We have squirrels all year.
ReplyDelete