The Squirrel

I met a squirrel,
Popped out the hedge
Light brown hair and dainty feet

The Taxus hedge was dark
Her back concealed and safe,
Unsure, she sat quite still,
Silent, watched the world go by,
Afraid perhaps..... Of what?
Was it the crows
That scared her so
The buzzards and the flies
With threat and pester?
Again........ perhaps
But when alone, or felt alone,
These can overwhelm.
Slow..........................
She left the hedge
Walked away but never far
From the Taxus hedge so dark,
She did not know her worth
The light brown hair and dainty feet
Down cast eyes, the tight closed lips,
There was no trust,
Who could she trust?
It seemed but none.
Before the dark hedge
There stood an oak,
A taller tree, an open tree
Alive with blackbird song,
Acorn hung in plenty,
limbs stretched out
Not closed and trimmed,
Not evergreen and dark
She tried to climb.
Unsure at first, but found she could,
A little hop...........enough.
Slow she left the hedge behind
But kept it in her mind
For "just in case"
In the oak she found  some light
Soft green leaves and butterflies,
Acorns hung in plenty
Opened wide her eyes
No more down cast, but bright,
The gap between the branch
On which she crouched
No longer seemed so wide.
To leave the hedge took courage
It seemed so safe but did not talk
Of days ahead, of things to do
And risks to take.
Stay with me it said I am a century old
And shall be ever more.
The oak spread out its branches to the sky
Some bent t'wards the ground
With acorn fruits and curtain leaves
In autumn they'd be gone
But left behind, she'll find a hole
Safe and high and warm
To snuggle through the winter cold
And wait for spring-time Crocus.
There is a sparkle in her eyes
Was always there deep down
Her lips now soft
The laughter lines returned
Her gaze direct and happy
Her brow a little softer
The worries are still there,
But, now shared
They can be half
Of once they were.

I met a squirrel
Popped out the hedge
Light brown hair and dainty feet.