It was the coldest winter that the animals had seen
Everything was white – the snow had covered all the green.
They hid in caves or huddled up together when they could
And tried hard to survive the cruel wind whistling through the wood.

The porcupines, however, had a problem as they tried.
Whenever they would huddle, quills would puncture neighbor’s hide.
Bloodied and in pain,they separated once again
And, one by one, they died as cold winds echoed through the glen.

So, once again, they huddled,willing to accept the harm
That came from close relationships in order to stay warm.
They learned there are no “perfect” matches in life to be had..
The way to get through life is by accepting good and bad.

There’s much to learn from their example how to get along.
In order to survive we must accept the right and wrong.
To have a chance to live life with a minimum of strife
We have to learn to tolerate the small pricks in our life!!