New Houses being built
Greater is the present demand
Then the shaft nature takes
Which most of the time
Is to the hilt.
I see within the community
I reside in
The misplaced critters
Wandering through their once
Feeding and stomping grounds.
Most of them, now meekly
Drift near the waters
For a sip or a dip
From man made ponds.
Twice
I've witnessed
Black pelt otters
Dark as midnight
Sneaking back to the wetlands
Aftter a playful dip
Within the confines
Of our gated community dwelling.
A six pointer stag
Stares hypnotically at high beams
Of a car, negotiating a curve
In the middle of the night.
A brood of wild turkeys
Feed near the hedges
Of an eighteen hole course
Fearless of men
Lucky for them
As they are protected.
I sometimes feel blest
Being surrounded
By so many predators
Of smaller critters in size
Understanding
Why I've not seen
Rats nor mice
Of them, I never think twice.
I have watched the coyotes come into the town for garbage since their food is long gone from what once was their native habitat. I also used to watch them run concrete banks of what was once the Los Angeles river. They survive in Man's world because we refused to survive in theirs. They do adapt, but they need our compassion, too. If the deer eat the apples from my tree, I have to understand that they have no idea that they should not. I have always tried to plant enough to share with the critters whose habitat is now my backyard. Beautiful poem, William.
Take care,
Sherry
Spot on writing William, but so true, that is why small town living is so nice, outside the edges of town nature still thrives...great poem!
love and peace, Carole
Superb message/poem William! Sadly I think the beauty of God's creation defiled by humanity in so many ways will have its recompense soon. Before we have time to rectify what has been done to it! Great work!
the shaft nature takes
Which most of the time
Is to the hilt.
So sadly true these gluttonous days, William, and many of those predators are being pushed to their very limits. I wonder what mankind will say when we've pushed them all to extinction - and those rats and mice take over.
A wonderful pictorial of life built on the edge of nature. With our gated communities come the traffic to take it's toll on the real residents there. I've seen many a dead otter on the islands where man trespassed their communities.
Aren't we the guest of there and aren't they the host?
When did we forget?
Great poem with a whole lot of wisdon in-between the lines.
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Take care,
Sherry
love and peace, Carole
Birgit and Roger
Regis
Love Tinka
eT
Which most of the time
Is to the hilt.
So sadly true these gluttonous days, William, and many of those predators are being pushed to their very limits. I wonder what mankind will say when we've pushed them all to extinction - and those rats and mice take over.
Susan
Aren't we the guest of there and aren't they the host?
When did we forget?
Great poem with a whole lot of wisdon in-between the lines.
Susan