Writer’s cramp promp. Write a poem titled "October’s Lonely Squirrel” |
OCTOBER’S LONELY SQUIRREL As I stroll this winding trail, inhaling the crisp mid-fall air Out of the brush burst a covey of quail, at first I thought it a bear The wind biting my skin, whirling around as I descend Continuing a path where I’ve never been, approaching the river’s bend Loose stones provide unstable ground The roaring water engulfing all sound The rattling of branches shedding their leaves The chirping of birds fluttering in trees That strange sound resembling raspy heaves Even the sound of my own sneeze Are all distorted by this rough moving water - Unfit for even an otter Slowly I cross atop slippery rocks Stumbling onto the other side Startling a sleeping grey fox Away from this water I quicken my stride Soothing sounds more pronounce The farther ahead I travel The river’s sound can no longer trounce Not even as loud as my feet on this gravel Again that sound, raspy coughing or a crow choking Could be some critter scoffing or in some way provoking What could it be? Now I must see Curiosity has gotten the better of me Following the sound is key Off of the path I now flee As I get closer to the sound A thick layer of leaves, litter the ground Trees, bushes, and vines impede my progress Stumbling ahead, onward I press Soon the sound cannot be heard Only the crushing of leafs as I struggle along All else is silent not even a bird In despair I sit down, what went wrong After some time the silence is broken The tweeting of birds again fills my ears Suddenly on a branch something awoken Scurrying about a lone squirrel appears The furry critter runs back and forth, on a tree so tall Stopping here and there, to make that strange call Loneliness has caused this poor thing to bawl |