Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Chickaree” by: rob kistner © 3/14/24
Outside my window
here in the Cascade foothills
late afternoon celebrates
alive in April’s sun
it’s the scurry of small things
the flight of majestic birds
warmed by Spring rising
imminent-equinox nature
midst the rich vernal spectrum
is in splendid voice
the chuff of tree’d red squirrel
the American Red Squirrel
Tamiasciurus Hudsonicus
referred to by many
as the chickaree
or even pine squirrel
these chattery little bandits
prefer the higher-elevation
coniferous forests of Oregon
they blend their chittered bursts
with the songs
chirps
and trills of birds
chickadee
goldfinch
western bluebird
northern flicker
western tanager
and high airborne
osprey
hawk
and eagle
so many others
that fly
flutter
and flit
through the intoxicating
Pacific NW mountain air
all the while
quick little chickaree
in lightning-fast raiding parties
are stealing
cracking
and feasting on
wild bird seed
they effortlessly spill these
from my
“strategically placed”
squirrel-proof
bird feeders
yeah / right!
nothing is safe
from these scampering
bushy-tailed brigands
highly aggressive
fiercely territorial
their little 6” bodies
11” including tails
are amazingly physically capable
swinging
twisting
leaping
hanging
balancing
fearless acrobats
unbelievable contortionists
they can climb straight up
an extremely slippery
pencil-thin
6’ tall black metal pole
and then hang
by only one hand-like paw
while eating
utterly amazing
I watch it
still don’t believe it
cute as they are
they’re exasperating as hell
these seed raids
occasionally occur
under the patient eye
of a wise Red-Tailed Hawk
also with a mind on dinner
depending on disposition
this winged watcher
can make these raids
much less enthusiastic
wild nature checks
while always seeking balance
Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Red Tailed Hawk”
by: rob kistner © 3/14/24
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rob kistner © 2024
Poetry at: dVerse
~ we must protect the wild spaces for these, and all magnificent creatures ~