Three Runaway Squirrels

Regina ~ July, 2023

This morning, I watched them ~ three little darlings scampering across the street. The boldest already racing up the first available tree. The middle ‘child’ was merely following along. The last one was still in the middle of the road trying to decide which way to turn to avoid the huge white monster bearing down on it. All three made it to safety. I turned away to get my coffee and to read. Silence was broken by the very busy rustling of the tree out front. I didn’t leap to my feet, but had to satisfy my curiosity. There they were the three red young-un’s, tails flashing, racing up, down, every single branch from one tree to the next. So fast that I could not get a photo of the flying three. Back to my book. A very loud, abrupt and insistent chitter stopped all the leafy noise. I could only assume that mom was calling her wayward kids home for lunch!

“Well, it may be humorous to you, 

but it’s a very serious matter to the squirrels.”

~ Lisa Kleypas, author

A Prairie Storm

Low, distant grumbling thunder wakened 

from a troubled sleep. 

Heard long before the wind 

raced through the trees 

flogging them with no regard

to the stately green giants.

Flashes of lightning flicker.

Rain flung at the world.

streets ran with icy water 

sloshed from the heavens.

Tiny hailstones raced

ahead of raindrops.

In an hour, 

exhaustion is all that’s left. 

The calm after the storm 

drips in the evening chill. 

“Nature makes no noise. The howling storm, 

the rustling leaves, the pattering rain are no disturbance, 

there is an essential and unexplored harmony in them.”

~ Henry David Thoreau

(Journal, 18 November 1837)

A Balancing Game

What do I write about tonight?

Something short, intelligent and brimming with wisdom 

~ or not. 

While my head 

senses my balance, 

I sense my discomfort, 

my lack of balance. 

Where does it come from ?

The inner ear, 

some kind of brain function 

 ~ both in agreement?

Or maybe something unknown?

Regardless, balance was restored 

by a good chat with a friend this afternoon 

and an evening out with other women 

to discuss matters of entertainment and food 

while watching others win door prizes.

“If you break your neck, if you have nothing to eat, if your house is on fire, 

then you’ve got a problem. Everything else is inconvenience.”

~ Robert Fulghum,

(Author of All I Really need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten)