Sunday, November 28, 2010

SUNDAY RERUN: THE SQUIRREL

Time again for Sunday Favorites, hosted by Chari, over at Happy To Design! To join in the party, click on the link in my left sidebar, which will take you to the easy-peasy instructions, or just click the link in the first sentence, which will take you to the latest installment. I've chosen another poem, this time from a blog post back in 2002:

My family & me, when I was 10 or 12.
Yes. That's a skunk, our darling Taboo.

THE SQUIRREL

The winter I was twelve
A squirrel,
I think it was a squirrel,
Got into the engine compartment
Of my grandfather's car.
It must have felt like Heaven,
An oily, black, warm
Nirvana.
Bliss was short-lived.
My grandfather, all unawares,
My gentle grandpa,
Drove the car
Into town
And back.

It was the smell that informed us, finally,
Of tragedy.
The smell.
Four decades later I wonder:
Where was that tiny corpse
That grandpa could not extricate it?
We suffered for weeks,
Tearing full-tilt through snowscapes,
Windows down
Coats buttoned
Eyes streaming.

I do not care for dogs.
That winter I would happily have been one,
Head out the window,
Face forward,
Tongue flagging
Icy crisp
Clean
Fresh
Air.

6 comments:

No name said...

Hi there,
Just dropping by from Sunday favorites. I've heard people have had skunks as pets but never have actually seen evidence that they did. lol. They are cute little creatures.

Loved the Squirrel poem. Anything that can make a person laugh is good for the soul.

Blessings,
Shanna

storybeader said...

I'm always afraid the cat next door is going to do something like that. She's probably not that dumb... BTW, looks like you're surrounded by a bunch of boys! {:-D

Chari at Happy To Design said...

HI Girlfriend...

Ohhh my gosh...you know I was really looking to see what that was on your mother's lap! I kept thinking that it looked like a skunk...and then I read your description! Hehe! What a hoot, my friend! I have heard of skunk pets but have never personally known anyone that had one! Hehe!

Girl, I DO love your poetry! What a great way to pen and keepsake special memories! Ohhh my...I'm sure that poor little squirrel made quite the impression...weeks later! Eeeks!!! I seriously can't imagine! Hehe! Thanks so much for sharing your fun poem and sweet family memories (wink) with us today for Sunday Favorites! I loved it!!!

Warmest wishes,
Chari @Happy To Design

Yellow Rose Arbor said...

What a bittersweet story! Poor thing!

I'm wondering how long your family had the little skunk!

Katherine

Lindy said...

I do love your poem. Could have happened with my dad too. :)

Splendid Little Stars said...

Your description is so vivid, it could have been me experiencing that.

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