Brigands

This is a poem of recollection — a cherished past, living 25 years in Oregon City.


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

*
rob kistner © 2024

Poetry at: dVerse

 

~ we must protect the wild spaces for these, and all magnificent creatures ~

10 thoughts on “Brigands”

  1. Love love love this. I am right there experience all of the glorious sights and sounds. Spring comes in your words, my friend. And
    “Tamiasciurus Hudsonicus” – WHEW! That’s a mouthful! Would love to hear this said aloud 🙂

  2. Hi Rob,
    I so enjoyed this.
    Starting off as beautifully penned opening of Spring, you cheekily go an eloquent rant, though tongue in cheek, against the pesky little squirrels (who you secretly admire!)
    Pure poetry 🙂

  3. Your poem gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling, Rob! We have grey squirrels here, which raid our bird feeders, although I have seen red squirrels on the Isle of Wight, where my sister lives. I got a lot of bird food and a new feeder for Mothers’ Day this year.

    1. We get the greys too, but they’re just not quite as fearless and acrobatic as the little chickaree (red squirrels). The little reds are also called Pine squirrels around here. They both amaze and infuriate me. But they’re just living, so I’ll give them that. I would never hurt one.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *