Squirrel Watching Poem by Curtis Johnson

Squirrel Watching
By Curtis Johnson

Many are we who live and die, having never taken the time to smell the roses
Or to behold the sometimes breathtaking beauty of a cloud in the sky
Nor even to take a drive to the west side of town, and stare at a sunset

One need not be soft and tender to enjoy the site of a purple rose
Or too busy to stop and gaze at a moving cloud
Nor need you be romantic to enjoy a sunset

One needs to celebrate little creatures of the wild
Before those senior years come creeping upon you

One must dare to decelerate and take note of a squirrel
Or follow the pathway of an ant as he passes your way
Or even find the time to save the life of a yard bug

I am learning what it’s like to observe a few note worthy ways,
And sometimes selfish behaviors of squirrels in my back yard.
Like the time that a squirrel took my pecans from my makeshift
Platform after I put them there to dry. You might not call them selfish,
But perhaps you would, if you loved pecans as well as my wife and me

I am not aware of any scientific study on squirrels, but my personal observations have led me to conclude that they feel entitled to any and every nut their little hearts desire, without any regards to ownership.

I am forgiving though about the pecans, because I enjoy watching them
Walk and run atop the fence with very little effort; And I am captured As I watch them chase each other from limb to limb, or race up a palm tree and hide beneath those protruding stickers

O what large eyes they have, being so uniquely set for exquisite vision! Their movements are so agile and quick, and they appear shaky and a bit over sensitive to their surrounding. Perhaps that explains why they seem to be in a constant state of readiness.

To some extent, I would say that they are also fearless, provided they are able to keep adequate distance from you.

Were I at work 9 to 5 or some other shift, I would not have learned such minor truths about squirrels; And had I not been retired, never would I have seen a squirrel outwit a cat who gave in and walked slowly away

Unlike me, you do not have to wait until retirement. There’s a beautiful wild kingdom out there my friend. Let’s enjoy it.

Cj04222015