Admiring the grand old bur oak
across the street.
Some dead branches have been cut off,
some big holes in that tree.
The locals are telling me raccoons live there,
fierce raccoons.
I hadn’t seen them yet,
and had been there for over a week.
I guess I was not prowling around
when they were.
We saw them a few nights later,
five of them slinking around the garage next door.
Maybe they are going after a cat,
there are a whole lot of strays in the neighborhood.
Then I saw another pack,
when we walked home from Jazz in the Park.
The locals were taking me the long way
because it was prettier.
I saw those lit up eyes
and clapped until they disappeared into the gutter.
We gave the gutter a wide berth
and crossed the street.
The city is alive with wild creatures
while we are sleeping or indoors.
Have you noticed
how the wild takes over quick in some places
when you lay your hoe down for a few minutes rest?
The prairie grasses are beautiful,
but you have to remember to flick all the ticks off
when you’re finished with your hike.
In the Northwest we battle dampness and mold,
Blackberry vines can take over your yard before you know it.
Rats love the city,
Seattleites are seeing more than the usual, this summer.
A friend once told us
he sees coyotes out when he’s running early in the morning in Los Angeles.
A few years ago, in the spring
A bear ran through our neighborhood.
Good for us city slickers to be reminded
We are sharing this planet.
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