Madame Chipmunk Emerges

    

Its time to emerge from hibernation
her little subterranean condo
has made her feel claustrophobic of late

outside her door
she can hear the symphony of springtime
the Crickets and Katydids chirping in harmony
with the Frogs in the pond
the serenade of the Early Peepers
wooing their mates
and the pretty song of the Robin

as new buds unfurl on trees and bushes,
its time to awaken
to venture out once again
into the familiar wild underbrush
last winter's frost is wet with melt
and last fall's cache of acorns
carried home so deftly in her cheeks
is now nearly gone
their nourishment, visible in her soft thick fur
and bright slanted eyes
so artfully made up, with nature's black and white pen

its time for the greening to begin
time to scurry through the brambles and the briars
acorns are sparse at this time of year
but there are other forms of nourishment to be had
the bulbs of the crocuses growing on the hillside
and those of the daffodils in the nearby garden
provide nutriment aplenty
as will the seed spilling over from bird feeders
set out by those large, harmless animals called Humans

spring is finally here
and Madame Chipmunk is in her glory
as she scampers playfully through the thicket,
tail pointing skyward
greeting her friends, Ms. Robin and Mr.Squirrel

but in her euphoria, she still must remember
she must be ever cautious of the Red Tailed Hawk
Chipmunks are his favorite dish
and if she is not careful, she will be his

and so...carefree as she is on this beautiful early spring day
she must be on guard
for the eyes of the Hawk see everything

Ah...but she is deft and smart and fleet of foot
Madame Chipmunk will survive

[This message has been edited by Madame Chipmunk (05-06-2002 10:58 PM).]

~Somewhere in my heart I'm always
dancing with you in the summer rain~

Noah...thank you, you lovely singing sparrow.
Do you really think you could tangle with that big hawk?
I guess it would be a nice try, but he might end up having sparrow and chipmunk for dinner.
~many singing sparrow hugs~

Lyra

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled"  Gwendolyn Brooks

Thanks Martie...as I told Kacy, there are many layers to this poem.
I just finished my radiation treatments.  They were absolutely horrible. I was terribly exhausted and sick the whole time, I didn't think I would make it to the end, but I did and and I have spent the past 4 days recovering.
David brought my computer into the bedroom for me and set it up so I could use it in here because I was getting so bored and he wanted me to stay in bed for a few days, but tomorrow, I think I'll scamper outside for a bit.
~scampery hugs

Lyra

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled"  Gwendolyn Brooks

Thanks Duncan...Don't worry, that hawk won't dare come near me because I have just had radiation....what a thought...imagine a chipmunk having radiation LOL!
~irradiated hugs

Lyra

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled"  Gwendolyn Brooks

Thanks Victoria...You must be kidding me...
Have you NEVER really seen a chipmunk?
Oh well...now you have! and we don't look anything like monkeys or monks, but we do make a chipping sound, almost like a bird but less melodic...I suppose thats where the name chipmunk must come from.
~furry chipmunk hugs

Lyra

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled"  Gwendolyn Brooks

Thanks Larry...me too!
How have you been feeling?
~lots of hopeful hugs

Lyra

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled"  Gwendolyn Brooks

Thanks so much, Lori...but during radiation, I really did feel like your screen door...in your poem "Curb Appeal"
I'm starting to feel better now, but I've been resting in bed for the past 4 days since radiation has been finished.
David even brought my computer in here, but I think I may be ready to scamper about outside tomorrow...at least I'll give it a try.
~furry chipmunk hugs

Lyra

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled"  Gwendolyn Brooks

Thanks so much Chris...warming my face in the sun sounds like a great idea right now.

~sunny hugs

Lyra

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled"  Gwendolyn Brooks

Thanks so much, Marsha...that was quite a welcome, but I really haven't been that far away.
Radiation is so terribly exhausting.
Today, I scampered out to do some grocery shopping and was so tired that I came home and took a nap for a couple of hours.
I wonder when I'll finally get back to normal again.
~loving hugs

Lyra

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled"  Gwendolyn Brooks

Here in the midst of my lonely abyss, a single joy I find...your presence in my mind.  Unknown

Thanks so much keth...those daffodil bulbs are delicious!  And they give me so much energy...maybe I can skip my nap tomorrow and spend my time here instead!
~flowery spring hugs

Lyra

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled"  Gwendolyn Brooks

Thanks Faterider...I'm not sure whether or not I beat the cancer yet, but my intuition tells me that I did.
As for the radiation treatments...well, I never thought I'd get through those...
I was SO sick and exhausted at the end that many times I was tempted to just give up...but I didn't and I did get through them so at least I can say that I gave it my best shot.
And of course, if the cancer IS gone...I have to make sure it stays gone.
~many hugs

Lyra

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled"  Gwendolyn Brooks