A squirrel chitters
Outside double pane windows
I sip hot chocolate
While she eats frozen acorns
I stay quiet, she feels secure.
***
This was written for Collen Chesebro’s weekly Tanka Tuesday #112 – Cold and Safe. When I was growing up, we hunted squirrels vigorously – but one winter, a tiny squirrel climbed up on our porch and ate our dog’s food. She would cuddle up against the window, from whence I suppose some heat emitted, and eat her bounty. Our poor dog was basically Gandhi and wouldn’t defend his food, so we eventually started putting cereal grains and nuts out on a table so she’d have preferable goods to eat.
Spud – basically dog Gandhi
In the spring she had a nest full of baby squirrels in a tree nearby. They grew up bigger than her, took her territory, and kicked her further into the forest where we never saw her again. We later shot them and ate them.
Current pupper Hector who was bought because of Spud’s breed and turned out to IN NO WAY be dog Gandhi (but I still love him because he’s bold, brave, and fun)
Oh, I loved your poem and the story to go along. I’ve had three Pomeranians now, but my babies are all passed now. My favorite breed. ❤ But, really… you ate all the squirrels? LOL!
Well, we can’t be absolutely sure which ones we got, but yeah – we at least theoretically got all of them.
LOL! 😀
I have squirrels in my backyard. There was a big one came to eat the bird seeds. This year I saw a smaller squirrel came to visit and eat the bird seeds. I don’t know where the bigger one has gone!
I love you squirrel story. No, I wouldn’t eat squirrels!! 🙂
Squirrels are transient buggers!
I understand not eating squirrel – heck, I’ve been pescatarian for almost a year! But if you ever change your mind, the key is to pressure cook it.
I’m 80% vegetarian, so eating meat is not an exciting adventure to me. When I was a kid, my landlord ate a cat. I watch how he suffocate a cat.
O_O strangle a cat!? First off, ok… i guess people can eat cats. To each their own. But that’s never a good slaughter method, either from an ethical or eating perspective! Wowee!
I know! That was horrible and horrible for a pre-teenager to see. The same landlord had opium customers!
Wow. Glad you’re not in those houses anymore, for sure!
Yes, that’s for sure!
I… had no idea that people eat squirrels. Huh, that’s strange. The poem is lovely and the story isthe best thing I’ve read on WP this week (although, that second part took a dark turn that I didn’t expect… I wonder why they did that to mama squirrel?) and dog Gandhi is adorable. I mean, both dogs are impeccably trimmed, both very fashionable dogs indeed. New dog is definitely owning the look more though.
New dog is very well bred. If you recall the story about the trees and the logging, Spud was the dog mentioned there.
Yes, I remember!
I am adding a 🙂 just in case.
Lol
You need to write a poem about that poor squirrel getting run out by her kids. That is so sad.
My dog is also non-territorial about her food, but thankfully the only other animal eating out of that bowl is our cat. 🙂
Poor Spud was unlike any dog I’ve otherwise known. I definitely plan on writing more about Spud, but the squirrel’s story is one mostly watched through windows as they chased each other around the trees.
I liked your poem. The story was a bit of a shock to me, I have never thought about eating a squirrel.
Before I became pescatarian, the only animal I think I wouldn’t eat was monkey due to disease transmission properties. But yeah – if it came in our yard, it ran the risk of becoming our supper.
Awwww. Sweet.
Thanks – squirrels are interesting creatures to watch!
Yes they are!