“Never lose an opportunity to see anything that is beautiful.
It is God’s handwriting – a wayside sacrament.
Welcome it in every face, every sky, every flower.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
I seem to have another visitor
He arrived just the other night
As I was gazing up at the stars
And this fella is quite a delight
I’ve been fascinated with opossums
Since I was a very tiny tyke in school
As the only marsupial in North America
I think these furry creatures are very cool
They have been around since dinosaurs roamed
The Algonquin Indians named them ‘Apasums’
Which translated means: ‘white-faced animals’
Today, I still love watching them ‘playin possum’
This little fella had come in for a drink of cool water
He had snuck into my yard, in the middle of the night
And when I shined my flashlight on him while he sipped
He immediately ‘played dead’ until he knew it was alright
But once he had decided that I wasn’t going to harm him
His shyness soon vanished, and he started eating bird seed
Now, every night, as I sprawl out, under the old maple tree
He happily climbs my fence, creeping out from under weeds
I often released his kind from deadly traps where I worked
And for doing that, I always received a reprimand or two
Why we human beings insist on killing anything not like us
I will never comprehend, until my days on Earth are through
Many people don’t care too much for these harmless critters
But my nightly visitor, is now most welcome in my little yard
Opossums are very skilled masters at insect and rodent control
So now, after he drinks some water, we both gaze up at the stars
Of course, my four old dogs don’t care very much for our furry visitor
They now all growl, and bark, and stare, through a basement window
But I have to laugh as my now bold little opossum buddy teases them
Before he climbs back over the fence, right in front of them, he strolls
©2008, Mr. Ed
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Blessings,
Joyce B.
my fave, but I admit they are fascinating. All us ani-mules are! {Uh, oh. Here comes another postscript: I don't like it when people call cruel individuals "animals." Not sure about that "lower" bit. Humans. . .you get my drift.) Thank you for continuing to entertain and educate us as only you can do. xOx Phyllis xOx
Christine
Every night, I have some animal come to either my front door, back door, or both, and drop one or two large pellets. Do you know what kind of animal it could be. I'm so tried of having to sweep my mats every day before I step outside.
O - POSSUM ... O - POSSUM ...
THOU WHITE-FACED CRITTER ...
OF YOU IT IS SAID ...
THE VERY, VERY BEST AT ...
PLAYIN' VERY, VERY DEAD!
Marsupial ... Pouch ...
to keep their Young Among ...
Curled Tail ... Tree ... Hang Down ...
Cute Face ... No Frown!
Peace, Tom.
Regis
Peace, love, and light,
Amber "V"
Newfie hugs, Rose
mary
Edvar the Elder