Squirrels

How many contraptions have been invented to confound the squirrel?  A backyard birder waits for the cardinal and the blue jay.  He wants a good winter count, but all that shows up are few brown birds and that damn squirrel.  With a shrug of attempted indifference, he whispers, “Just move on.  Look away.”  But it’s too much.  Eyes narrowed, lips pursed, he prepares for battle.  The squirrel, poor dear, has no choice.  He smoothes his fur and stretches his legs.  “Bring it on,” he giggles.  Like a child who ends up in your bed after promising to stay in her own, the battle between squirrel and man inevitably turns in the squirrel's favor.  He becomes the one blessed creature worth counting at the feeder.

 a poem by Hafiz:

Another Squirrel Tale

With them being all around my house

and even coming in at times,

How could I not have another squirrel

caper to report?

What I wanted to say of them was, that

I think they can give blessings.  Surely

they are like little angels nesting in trees,

who like nuts.

I think they might even be able to

foretell winning lottery numbers, or

point out a good person to date, if you

are lonely.

But you have to be kind to them, or

They will never divulge they can talk.

(from A Year With Hafiz translated by Daniel Ladinsky)