Category Archives: Critters

Ambients

Posted on July 26, 2021 by sputterpub

The squirrels spiral-argue up the tree,and tearing bark they chitter-bark back down.A giant redwood is their armory,and eucalyptus forms their battleground.Now crowds of crows send raucous caws around,while seagulls croon and chickens mutter-cluck,and chainsaws fill the air with power sound,invading … Continue reading →

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Wake Up Caw

Posted on May 18, 2021 by sputterpub

The din disturbed my sleep at ten to six.It issued from a raucous flock of crows.I like their shiny black, their clever tricks,but noise and splats of shit I don’t receiveso well. There doesn’t seem to be a fix –I … Continue reading →

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From a Fan Fan

Posted on May 1, 2021 by sputterpub

I thought my little cottage needed screens –I had them on the wish list from the start.But reconstruction soaked up all my meansbefore we got to insect blocks. In partI was okay with screen delay – they thwartthe bugs but … Continue reading →

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Ants

Posted on February 6, 2021 by sputterpub

I spent my early childhood back East(Manhattan-born, Long Island reared to 8),and sure I have strong memories, not leastthe insects Mom would burn to death or bait.She never minded summer fireflies.She swatted other bugs and was appalledwhenever ants invaded. She’d … Continue reading →

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Excreta

Posted on January 20, 2021 by sputterpub

I like the eucalypt above the deck.I fancy the biota in my yard.But critters make their messes. Squirrels wreckthe seedlings and they piss from high above.The crows I love deface the wood with fleckand splat of poop – tenacious chalky … Continue reading →

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Late Theft

Posted on December 6, 2020 by sputterpub

Well finally the leaves begin to turn;the fall has been delayed by climate change.For weeks our land and forests were a-burn,and now the local fauna’s acting strange.The critters that should shelter won’t adjourn –they flit and fly and don’t reduce … Continue reading →

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Prey

Posted on September 22, 2020 by sputterpub

Encountering evisceration of a hummingbird(its guts a ruby hue, its head apart),in less than half a second, half a step, the thought occurred:the neighbor’s cat had stopped a tiny heart. And then I spied that feline beast of ebony and … Continue reading →

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Small Animals

Posted on September 19, 2020 by sputterpub

Although the count was high, I left my space.I needed crackers for my favorite three-year old – the cheddar goldfish with a facethat make his own light up in pleasure’s beam.As I approached the street, I saw a traceupon the … Continue reading →

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Thrummingbirds

Posted on August 7, 2020 by sputterpub

I never saw so many hummingbirds in 13 years of living by this yard. If I’d attempt to put their sound in words, I’d mention “thrum:” soft tongue upon the hard- called palate right behind the upper teeth. I hear … Continue reading →

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Scat

Posted on August 1, 2020 by sputterpub

My yard is rodent-rich and bird-endowed, and harbors skunks and possums frequently, but we decided deer are not allowed – they munch too many blossoms. So we built a gate atop the entrance steps that cowed the eaters of our … Continue reading →

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