recently

i’ve found myself

in an

ongoing battle of the wits

with the squirrels

who come to play in my yard

and who

have recently

 kicked

their games of

mischief

and

merry-making

up a notch

rearranging the candles

messing up the table

eating buds from

the bright green gardenia plant

just as it’s about to bloom

tearing down and making off

with the tiny flags

and

leaving nothing but

 a trail of snacks behind

i picture them holding secret meetings

inside the knothole

of the big tree out front

assigning jobs

creating new strategies

giggling

chattering

in their native squirrel language

discussing

how to

step up their game

and

i am

losing the battle

but

next

i’m

going to

 try to make friends with them

or

go undercover.

—

‘right now, we’re just trying to

beat the squirrels to the pine nuts.’

– arlene ward

—-

image credits: squirrelpicnic.com, rabbitwhiskers.com, littlenummies.net, those darn squirrels