FOR THE SQUIRREL
In the neighbor's yard
the tree
is over 30 feet tall.
It's always green
leaves branch out .
Still full even in approaching winter.
I walked out onto my front porch
A gaunt grey squirrel
downward scampered
headlong down the trunk
to the corner of my yard he ran
stopping next to my driveway.
Several magnolia pods lay in my yard.
My magnolia tree had been removed by the city
the nearest is next door.
Fleshy bright red seeds lingered in the pods.
He, or is it a she
I don't know how to tell the difference
I'm not getting close enough to tell.
So, the squirrel proceeded to dig dig dig a hole
extracted from the pod a berry
with his? tiny furry front paws
chewed the juicy seed
spit it into the hole
pat pat pat with his front paws
he paused
and he? started all over again
preparing for winter's lack of food.
I went to Big Lots later
purchased roasted no salt
sunflower seeds
and tossed out a squirrel sized portion
for squirrel dinner
to stave off winter's hunger
IT FOLLOWS AFTER
Two comes after one
night comes after day
Thursday after Wednesday
and winter follows fall
July is after June
rainbows after rain
flowers after planting
babies come after fucking
crawl, then walk, then run.
playoff after tournaments
paychecks come after work
runoffs after ties
grief comes after loss
and dishes after dinner
midnight before the dawn
marriage comes after the vows
and rainbows after rain
Thanksgiving after Halloween
New Year's after midnight..
Everything always follows something
something is the next to do
what's next on the agenda
on the list of priorities
on the to do's to do's.
break a dish,- glue or toss
children need new clothes
the loser needs to concede
to the winner go the spoils.
and the winner writes the history
WHAT'S NEXT
Oh! Happy Day! Oh! Happy Day!
New President
first woman VP
a woman of color
brilliant woman
shattered major glass ceiling.
Change of power
calm not chaos
calm deliberation
calm restores our country
our place on the world's stage
our economy
our health
and don't forget Covid
where or where to start
how to undo the tangled thread
of mass deceit
unsow the seeds of hatred
dividing neighbor from neighbor
how to open ears again and listen
without threat of AK 47's
no more lusting after dictators
no more shunning aside our allies
no more ignoring kids in cages
let's work across the aisles
I too have to practice
love and tolerance
But we can protests without tear gas
rubber bullets at journalists
or protestors tossed into unmarked vans
undoing of grasping greedy hands
What's next you ask?
A brand new day
rain has washed the stink away
a new and better normal
patiently awaits us
come and celebrate
a Happy Day!
