The SQUIRREL

In a branch fork of a conifer tree
built of twigs,grass, bark and leaves
lies the nest of a tiny blind and deaf redpelt,
helpless, hairless, alone and ill at ease.
Outside the safety of the moss lined dray,
mother squirrel is foraging most of the day,
gathering seeds and berries and all thats good,
to store away for winter, when there's a shortage
of fresh food.
She returns to the dray in the middle of the day
avoiding the heat and dangerous birds of prey.
However her work for the day is not yet done,
she has fungi to lay out and dry in the sun.
After a brief nap she's off out to play
the tattle-taling redpelt scampers all the way
running up and down trees
jumping from branch to branch
her long bushy tail and sharp claws
help her advance,
chitter chattering along the way
scurrying far and near,
to her favourite hazel copse
what treats await her here!
Nuts held between her little paws
she munches and she gnaws,
savouring every bite of the treat within her claws
her cheeky little face lights up in delight
her tufted ears look cute, her black eyes burn bright
Then across the leafy canopy she leaps
in fearless bounds,
no longer hunted for her pelt,
by humans on the ground

SAP July 2008


The Happy Caterpillar

The happy caterpillar munches
foliage day by day,
his tubular segmented body
expanding and ballooning,
as he moves his head
from side to side,
voraciously consuming,
leaves that come his way.
His antennae probing
and selecting food
his tiny eyelet stemmata
focussed on the feast,
A veritable eating machine
of a beast!
He breathes in through
his spiracles,
as his mandibles cut and crunch,
vigilant this multi tasker does not
wish to be someones lunch.
He scrapes against the leaf
in a ritualised accoustic duel
and if that is not effective
he has other resourceful tools.
Camouflage and toxins
can keep predators at bay
tiny bristles on his sides
make him an unpalatable treat,
failing this he can disappear
in a nimble acrobatic feat;
He can with his spinnerets
a silken line release, and by
dropping from the branch,
once again find some peace.
He does not worry about getting fat
or about having to wax or shave
he just sheds his skin as his body grows
until the day he pupates.
Then the happy caterpillar
can take to the sky
resurrected as a butterfly
What a blissful happy fate!


THE TREE-HUGGING SLOTH

From the branches two big eyes
watch the world underneath pass by,
short squat head and snout, tiny ears
sticking out, while long gangly legs
dangle down,
Big round belly what a sight,
no wonder he's mostly seen at night!
Hanging upside down in his tree
grasping claws grip grimly round,
as stubby tail is slothful bound.
So slowly he moves around
grazing on buds, shoots and leaves;
carefree and camouflaged,
he is rarely ill at ease.
He may appear phlegmatic
with his impassive lazy ways,
but take a closer look
at whats going on beneath
his apathetic gaze.
His coat is host to algae
which makes his hair look green
and bacteria provides him
with some nutrients as he
licks his long fur clean.
He also has unbidden
guests that make his coat
their home.
He may not be outgoing but
he'll never be alone.
not one for standing out,
or acting on a whim,
He prefers the quiet life
by choosing to blend in.
SAP July 2008


Written by Orcadia