It’s PoetryFriday!
You can find out more about what that means –> Click here.
But even better, join us! Sarah Grace Tuttle is our host this week!
National Writing Project’s WRITE OUT celebration is underway! Two weeks of place-based inspired writing projects. Anyone else writing outside?
I found inspiration in some old Taylor Swift lyrics…
“You’re being too loud. You need to calm down.”
Squirrel Sonnet
I step across the threshold as they hurl
their morning shrills, their brassy attitudes.
A mountain drama, played by churly squirrels.
I’m pelted by their shrieks, their platitudes.
They pause a moment. Multitudes collude
then scramble madly. Limb-to-limb they bound.
Delusions of their self-importance, skewed.
From lofty heights, the pinecones pound the ground.
A lazy hound ignores admonishment.
A flick of bushy tails, they dare her: Play!
But she disdains their noisy accomplishment.
Prefers a slower start to autumn days.
As busy squirrels prepare their winter home,
I find my inspiration for a poem.
Bonny is not intimidated by squirrels.
I’ll be hosting Poetry Friday here next week!
Join me then with your own place-based, outdoor-themed poem.
Poems and photos © Patricia J. Franz
Patricia Franz writes picture books and poetry. She believes children, dogs, and sourdough have a lot to teach us about life, joy, and wonder. She has raised two boys, four dogs, and holds a master’s degree in Theology with a focus on children’s spirituality. Patricia, her husband, her Bernese Mountain dog, Bonny, and her sourdough starter split their time between the Arizona desert and the Sierra Nevada mountains. 
churly squirrels–love! I’ve been deeply out of the loop for a few months. Will be thinking about place poems this week. Thanks!
I’ve been writing this week camping in the New Mexico wilderness. So spiritual there.
I was allowed into the back country of the Valles Caldera Wilderness for a few hours, where I brewed a cup of tea on a wee camping stove, unfolded my chair, and exhaled. 🙂
Gorgeous squirrel photo!! Love the poem — we have too many squirrels here, and you’ve captured their behavior to a tee. Great imagery.
Squirrels do, indeed, have “brassy attitudes”… what a great phrase! You paint a perfect fall picture for us. Thank you Patricia!
The squirrels in my yard and the outer green space rarely seem to stop, unless, per your pic of the one with the pinecone, they have a treat! I was recently filling my bird feeder, which slipped and spilled, a lot! (They cannot get to the feeder regularly.) They’ve been happy for two days! I love the words you’ve given to them, Patricia, that “flick of bushy tails” says it true. I do watch & wonder if the tails hold secret messages? And, love that Bonny is so subdued, no matter the chatter!
Oh, this is fun! You’ve used so many great words throughout. I love “churly squirrels” and also “brassy attitudes.” I’m always delighted by the noisy admonishments that red squirrels hurl at me when I disturb them. Such bold and brassy little buggers!
Patricia, I love this poem, especially the brassy attitudes, mountain drama, and churly squirrels. I’m quite impressed with your sonnet writing–I find them very challenging. This one works beautifully, including the last line. 🙂
Your sonnet is rich in description and imagery, Patricia. You have squirreled away some powerful words. Sonnetsational!
I giggled at your squirrel picture, and then again at your poem! Like others, I was drawn to your word choice — especially “churly squirrels!” At least for the moment, I’m gloating over my success at planting bulbs that have NOT (yet) been dug up by the cheeky buggers that live in our backyard neighborhood!
The rhyming is a delight, Patricia! I can just picture this scene, especially the pine cones pounding the ground. Once I get my winter bird feeder set up, I know I’ll see more of our squirrel friends colluding here.
Your poem and Bonny have won my autumn heart. 🙂
The squirrels have been so active of late. They love my bulbs. this captures them: churly squirrels
Our squirrels are churly and brassy as well. How fun to make them the subject of a sonnet. I love it!