Oh, that silly squirrel! He preens –
Peering through the window-screens
and making funny faces.
Nose-to-nose, cross-eyed, we stare –
neither one of us would dare,
if not for glass and wire mesh.
What’s drawn the would-be burglar here?
It’s rare to see his face so near…
Ah! Raindrops in an upturned pan!
Yes, when it rains, my little friend
Returns once more to garden’s end
To scold a tiny wizened gnome
Guarding acorns near his home.
That faithful little man won’t roam
But poorly keeps squirrel’s secrets.
This is my contribution to the second installment of the #WordsMatter Blog Hop. The prompt for September is ‘when it rains’.
Do visit FantasticFeathers’s take on the prompt, in which Mahathi shares her thoughts on rain, both gentle and violent: When it Rains.. #WordsMatter. Then read Unishta’s post at Mumbai on a High: When it rains #WordsMatter – a short story of disillusionment and hope.
And, Jahir C., I do hope you enjoy this little update on the garden gnome. He’s still there, faithfully tending to the basil, hot peppers, mint, and tomatoes. Thank you for your recommendation for the WP VR – 360 Panorama and virtual tour creator for WordPress plug-in as a replacement for the outdated one I had been using for a Gnome’s-Eye View of My Herb Garden – your plug-in works beautifully!
Not sure which I love more, the poem or the pics (esp. the garden gnome) 🙂 Could imagine the scene of the squirrel scolding the gnome 😉
This really happened. (At least the part about the squirrel stare-down and me figuring out that it was due to there being a source of water, there!)
Not sure which I love more, the poem or the pics (esp. the garden gnome) 🙂 Could imagine the scene of the squirrel scolding the gnome 😉
This really happened. (At least the part about the squirrel stare-down and me figuring out that it was due to there being a source of water, there!)
That was such a delightful poem Holly! You have a lovely backyard garden!
That was such a delightful poem Holly! You have a lovely backyard garden!
That image of a squirrel and a cross-eyed you made me smile this morning. Your gnome reminds me of Big Ears from the Noddy books by enid Blyton.
That image of a squirrel and a cross-eyed you made me smile this morning. Your gnome reminds me of Big Ears from the Noddy books by enid Blyton.
Pure delight . I could just imagine you stalking this little creature as it scampered in your garden.
Hah! Running from the squirrel, more likely. He’s a little prankster. Likes to scold me and pelt me with peanuts and acorns sometimes.
Pure delight . I could just imagine you stalking this little creature as it scampered in your garden.
Hah! Running from the squirrel, more likely. He’s a little prankster. Likes to scold me and pelt me with peanuts and acorns sometimes.
The pictures and the poem … both are so captivating. The poem is beautiful and the pictures are going well with it.
The pictures and the poem … both are so captivating. The poem is beautiful and the pictures are going well with it.
The squirrel tale continues from last month’s prompt ‘outside the window’. I enjoyed reading that one and I enjoyed the squirrel returning to scold your garden gnome. What fun it must be to watch the squirrel talking to the gnome figure. That bench in the sunshine is inviting.
The squirrel tale continues from last month’s prompt ‘outside the window’. I enjoyed reading that one and I enjoyed the squirrel returning to scold your garden gnome. What fun it must be to watch the squirrel talking to the gnome figure. That bench in the sunshine is inviting.
The gnome looks kind and sweet. The squirrel sounds naughty 🙂 Loved reading your poem and the pictures are lovely too.
The gnome looks kind and sweet. The squirrel sounds naughty 🙂 Loved reading your poem and the pictures are lovely too.
this is such a delightful read. I haven’t seen a squirrel in years. We don’t have them in Australia.
Thank you, Rajlakshmi. I’ll bet you’d trade a whole squirrel invasion for some of the critters you DO have, there! I would love to visit Australia, but there are so many types of wildlife there that will KILL you without batting an eye – your spiders are the stuff of my nightmares. 😉
this is such a delightful read. I haven’t seen a squirrel in years. We don’t have them in Australia.
Thank you, Rajlakshmi. I’ll bet you’d trade a whole squirrel invasion for some of the critters you DO have, there! I would love to visit Australia, but there are so many types of wildlife there that will KILL you without batting an eye – your spiders are the stuff of my nightmares. 😉
this is such a delightful read. I haven’t seen a squirrel in years. We don’t have them in Australia. 🙂
this is such a delightful read. I haven’t seen a squirrel in years. We don’t have them in Australia. 🙂
I was really imagining the squirrel’s faces. Loved the poem
Oh, they are funny up close, especially when they’re yawning or chewing on something. I do wish I’d grabbed the camera, but was moving so slowly so as not to scare him off.
I was really imagining the squirrel’s faces. Loved the poem
Oh, they are funny up close, especially when they’re yawning or chewing on something. I do wish I’d grabbed the camera, but was moving so slowly so as not to scare him off.
You have given us a good view of your garden, squirrels and gnomes with this poem. It’s good to see squirrels make faces from window.
You have given us a good view of your garden, squirrels and gnomes with this poem. It’s good to see squirrels make faces from window.
The squirrel scolding the gnome has got to be the sweetest thing about this poem; enjoyed reading it and wondering if this really happened in your garden Holly!
The squirrel scolding the gnome has got to be the sweetest thing about this poem; enjoyed reading it and wondering if this really happened in your garden Holly!
I could literally imagine you peeping through the glass window and following its trail time to time. I had such experience but without the glass window in between. By the way you have a lovely backyard.
I could literally imagine you peeping through the glass window and following its trail time to time. I had such experience but without the glass window in between. By the way you have a lovely backyard.
Your backyard garden is very beautiful. Squirrels and gnomes – lovely duo!
Thank you! It is a lovely back yard, and that is largely due to my husband’s efforts. I’m a lousy gardener!
Your backyard garden is very beautiful. Squirrels and gnomes – lovely duo!
Thank you! It is a lovely back yard, and that is largely due to my husband’s efforts. I’m a lousy gardener!
Squirrel is so agile creature and it so difficult to take a snap of it. Loved your take on the prompt.
Yes, most of my squirrel pictures turn out looking like blurry gray knobs on the side of a tree. Much easier to capture them in words!
Squirrel is so agile creature and it so difficult to take a snap of it. Loved your take on the prompt.
Yes, most of my squirrel pictures turn out looking like blurry gray knobs on the side of a tree. Much easier to capture them in words!
Such a light, refreshing take on the prompt! I believe the little gnome is growing old and hence cant keep his secrets. The furry friend has all the rights to give him earful…
Loved it!
Such a light, refreshing take on the prompt! I believe the little gnome is growing old and hence cant keep his secrets. The furry friend has all the rights to give him earful…
Loved it!
Such a delightful poem, Holly! Loved your take on the prompt. Agree with Anamika about the bench—it is so inviting!
P.S. I’d love to have a garden (complete with the squirrels and the gnome!) someday.
Such a delightful poem, Holly! Loved your take on the prompt. Agree with Anamika about the bench—it is so inviting!
P.S. I’d love to have a garden (complete with the squirrels and the gnome!) someday.
What a pretty place. I love how vibrant that looks. So cute. Thank you Holly for sharing this lovely poem and the happy vibes with #WordsMatter.
What a pretty place. I love how vibrant that looks. So cute. Thank you Holly for sharing this lovely poem and the happy vibes with #WordsMatter.
I can just see it all happening. We have a whole family of squirrels running around some fallen trees in the compound. I love watching them scamper over the logs and play .
I can just see it all happening. We have a whole family of squirrels running around some fallen trees in the compound. I love watching them scamper over the logs and play .
Sweet! I’d love to visit your lovely garden someday! I know one little boy who will love to play there! Wishing you all many happy days in it.
Thank you!
Sweet! I’d love to visit your lovely garden someday! I know one little boy who will love to play there! Wishing you all many happy days in it.
Thank you!
Oh that’s a naughty squirrel! Loved that garden gnome, though. We have squirrels running all over our balconies, too, and I could so relate to your poem.
Oh that’s a naughty squirrel! Loved that garden gnome, though. We have squirrels running all over our balconies, too, and I could so relate to your poem.