Category: Poetry

I’ve got a busy day of writing ahead, so I can’t stay long, but I did want to say good morning to you before I go…

Good Morning!

Enjoy your day, everyone!

Today, my imagination and I shall be traveling along the sea…

Have a blessed day, everyone!

A Squirrel Like No Other – Part 2

I was working late that night, sitting at my desk under a mound of paperwork, when I heard the sound of someone knocking on the barn door.  All the babes were sleeping soundly, and Brutus wouldn’t be home for at least another week, so I was perplexed as to who might be calling at such a late hour.  When I opened the barn door, there was my sweet friend Pfhlurrt, standing at my feet in the doorway, soaked to the bone and simply exhausted! 

Immediately, I scooped him up in my arms, grabbed a towel from off the shelf and wrapped it around the squirrel, snuggly.   Setting my friend down on the couch in my office, I added another log to the stove and set a pot of water to boil on its surface, for making some tea.  Once his teeth stopped chattering and he was able to talk, Pfhlurrt relayed the message sent by the old abbot that very morning.  As my friend warmed himself by the fire, he told me of the situation facing the prince and his young bride. 

We spoke late into the night, over the goings on within Acorn Valley and the request put forth to me, by the abbot himself.  Of course, I was more than happy to help in any way that I could!  As for welcoming another babe to the barnyard, I assured Pfhlurrt that this little one would fit right in with rest.  Besides, Tilly would be thrilled at the opportunity to care for a baby.  The mouse was still too young, as of yet, to become a mother of her own, so this infant would certainly give her time to grow and learn what it takes to raise a baby. 

We agreed to wait until the next day, hoping there might be a break in the storm, long enough for us to safely travel and retrieve my new ward.  I made up a small bed for my friend, leaving him to his rest while I did some quick research about squirrels, specifically the flying kind.  Sleep would not be coming this night, as there was much to be done, between preparing a safe environment for such a tiny thing, and waking up Miss Tilly, in order to prepare her for what was soon arriving.

All the next morning was a buzz of activity!  Tilly was in rare form, fully in control of making everything just right for our new guest, while still tending to our current toddlers, Dinky and Boomer.  When the weather had broken for a bit, Pfhlurrt and I made a break for the valley, in hopes that I might retrieve the baby quickly.  I would still need time to safely return to the barn before the storm returned.  Even with the winds quieted, our travel was still slowed by the snow that covered all the trails. 

When we arrived at the home of Lord Rico and Lady Ophelia, the old abbot met us at the door, holding an incredibly tiny bundle in his arms.  Briefly, he explained that the Royal House wished that I remove the baby as quickly and quietly as possible, careful not to bring any attention to myself.  There was to be absolutely no contact with the family, aside from regular reports about the baby’s growth and development.  I was asked to return these reports via Pfhlurrt, under cover of darkness, so as to avoid any curious eyes… or ears within Acorn Valley. 

I asked the old abbot to give my sincerest of regards to the infant’s parents, as I tucked the precious package within my chest pocket; their son would be safe within my care.  With that I made haste, walking as fast as safely possible, back home to where the warmth and shelter of our barn awaited. 

I’d barely made it to the road leading up to the barn, before the storm returned, requiring that I run the rest of the way.  As I reached the barn door, it opened before I even had a chance to take hold of the handle, with Tilly standing to the side and ushering me forward, urgently!  Once the door closed, she followed me into my office, where the fire had already been started by none other than Brutus, who’d returned home early from his travels.  If there might be any question, as to how a full-grown dragon might fit inside my office, Brutus always kept his size no bigger than that of a dog when he was near the barn, so as not to frighten the tiny ones that live here. 

With the entire barnyard surrounding me, I sat down on the couch and began to unwrap the bundle I’d held within my pocket.  Not once, during the entire journey home from the valley, did the baby stir from his slumber.  When I pulled back the blanket he’d been wrapped in, I was taken aback at how tiny the squirrel was, all curled into a little snoring ball of fluff no bigger than a walnut.  There were ooh’s and ahhh’s coming from everyone in the office, with little hands reaching in and gently touching his tiny fingers and toes.  The baby began to stretch and yawn, opening his eyes for the first time to curiously stare back at us.  “What do we call the baby?” whispered Dinky, softly caressing one of his tiny wings.  “I thought you said it was a squirrel?” she questioned. Boomer looked closer for a moment, snorted and shook his head saying, “it doesn’t look like a squirrel… more like a tiny dragon, because of his wingy thingies.”  Briefly, I explained about what a flying squirrel was, how this baby’s flaps were just different than most, and why we needed to care for this one.

The beautiful thing about all the creatures living here in the barn, is their willingness to give love and acceptance to whomever is in need, just like that!  In truth, anyone would find it hard not to adore this baby, wingy thingies and all!  While I had been telling everyone about why the baby had wings, Tilly had slipped away to make some warm milk for her newest babe.  Handing me the bottle, she gently took the baby from my hand and re-wrapped him inside his little blanket.  When she was settled on the couch, I offered her the bottle and suggested that perhaps she might be the one to give him a name.

 For several moments there were a handful of sad faces, all wanting the chance to name the baby themselves.  Being the bright and heartwarming mouse that Tilly is, she asked “Dinky, didn’t you ask what we should call the squirrel?  And Boomer, didn’t you say that he looked more like a dragon?”  With both of them shaking their heads yes, she continued on saying “I think we should make one word out of squirrel and dragon, like you both said!”  With happy smiles and excited giggles, the newest member of the Barnyard was given his first name.  Though he might eventually return to Acorn Valley, and his royal titles, within our growing family, this baby would forever be known as Squagon!

The saga continues…

A Squirrel Like No Other – Part 1

On a cold and windy day, within the forest of Acorn Valley, came the birth of the Acorn King’s first grandchild, a baby meant to ensure peace between kingdoms.  The royal baby was the only kit born to the newly married couple, which only added to the confusion of such an untimely birth.  Not only are squirrels supposed to be born in early spring, but usually, there are three or more babies born to each bonded couple.  The baby’s mother, Lady Ophelia of House Pinion, thought that perhaps this birth was nothing more than a simple unexpected pregnancy, due to the wedding falling so late in the year.  Her father, the king of Pinion Valley, had held his approval for many months before agreeing to House Acorn’s terms.  Finally, the two kings put their differences aside, allowing the wedding to move forward, peacefully joining the two royal houses. 

The journey of love, you see, began nearly four summers earlier.  Peace talks between the two kingdoms had been ongoing for some time, as there had never before been any friendly relations between two differing squirrel species.  House Pinion comes from a rare species of Sciuridae, though it’s much easier to call them Flying Squirrels.  Their lands lay to the south of Acorn Valley, with a number of smaller territories on the outer edges of both kingdoms.  

House Acorn comes from what are referred to as Douglas Squirrels, which live throughout the northwestern parts of the land.  Normally, the two species of squirrel Houses would never associate with one another, due to the great distance between their territories.  Within the last several years, however, disputes and warring had broken out between many of the smaller clans, causing tensions to begin growing between both Royal Houses.  Finally, the Acorn King decided to send his eldest son, Lord Rico Pistachio III, in an effort to begin peace talks with this distant kingdom of strange flying squirrels. 

When Lord Rico was greeted by none other than Lady Ophelia, daughter to the King of House Pinion, both saw their destiny beginning to unfold, swept away by love. 

Convincing their kingdoms to allow an inter species marriage took many months of delegations, on both sides.  Even after the Acorn King gave his approval, Ophelia’s father refused to allow the marriage!  Only after the couple threatened to run away and marry in another kingdom, did the Pinion King finally give in, reluctantly letting his daughter go.  The wedding finally took place, just as summer was ending, leaving the couple to work themselves silly storing up nuts, before the snows arrived.  Lady Ophelia didn’t even know she was pregnant until shortly before the baby’s birth. 

Arriving suddenly, and without warning, the arrival of a royal baby brought about a great deal of confusion and excitement.  From there, things rapidly went from happiness to concern, with fear soon following close behind.  The infant prince looked completely normal, if a bit smaller than usual, but what caused the panic were his wings! 

Squirrels were not supposed to have wings!  In truth, flying squirrels are not actually flyers at all, but rather gliding squirrels, born with a flap of skin under each arm.  One only noticed this when they were moving from the top of one tree to another, stretching out their arms like a parachute and simply floating downward. 

Lady Ophelia gave up flying when she arrived in Acorn Valley, so very few squirrels even knew this about her, nor did the Acorn King wish them to know.  He felt that House Acorn must always appear proper and dignified.  “The squirrels of this valley are not flyers” the king repeatedly warned.  “Flying will be left to the birds” were his exact words!  It hadn’t been seen as a problem, until now.  The couple had never considered that their babies might glide like their mother, let alone grow wings.

Those so-called wings on the baby squirrel, were actually folds of skin that had developed high on his shoulders, instead of under his arms where they should have grown.  Both Rico and Ophelia were devastated by the unsightly things growing out of their baby’s back, though the infant was quite healthy and happy.  The couple were able to keep the baby’s wings hidden for the first several weeks, but as soon as the Acorn King arrived to visit his first-born grandson, the entirety of House Acorn erupted in a panic!  Lady Cordelia, the King’s eldest daughter wisely suggested they bring in the old abbot, in an attempt to calm everyone down.  She knew that no good solution would be found if everyone were squabbling in fear! 

When the old squirrel arrived at the couple’s tree, he walked right through the room filled with noisy and uptight squirrels, coming to stand before the infant in Lady Ophelia’s arms.  “May I?” the old squirrel asked softly, holding his arms out for the baby.  Ophelia handed her tiny bundle into the arms of the kindly old squirrel, who gently examined her son.  The old abbot asked, “Have you given him a name yet, my lady?”  Ophelia looked to her husband, Lord Rico, and then to the Acorn King.  Tearfully, she looked down at her son saying “It is Pinion custom that the name of a royal babe must come from his father’s line, from the lips of the king!”  From across the room came the voice of the Acorn King, making it clear to everyone in the room that NO name would be forthcoming!

In order to restore order to the room, it was suggested by the old abbot that the baby be raised outside the village, in a nearby community, where they might simply allow the baby to grow up, before he be denied his rightful place in the squirrel kingdom.  Only then would they know more of his condition.  As the baby was the first of his family’s line, being half flying squirrel and half non flyer, no one in that room had any clue about his future; for all they knew, the growths on his back might simply fade or fall off when he got older. 

“There is a human, a woman in fact, who owns a barn just outside of our valley” said the old squirrel, “where a growing number of small woodland creatures have been taken in.  She cares for the lost and injured wildlife, as well as several orphans that have made their way to her door.  I believe that she will give him all the care he may need, while House Acorn comes to terms with the way of things… for now, at least.”  Before either of the baby’s parents could utter a word, the choice was taken from them by the King, himself! 

The old abbot was take the frightful little thing away until such time as it might look and act like a squirrel… NO wings! 

With that the king departed, as well as the rest of the squirrels in the room, aside from the old abbot.  He sat with the couple for a time, doing his best to comfort the heartbroken squirrels, reassuring them that this was their best hope.  In time, he was sure that things would all work out, but for now, the woman and the barn were their child’s best chance at a future.  While the couple spent their last few hours with their precious baby, the old abbot wrote a brief message to the woman at the nearby barn, sending it to her straight away, by the captain of the Royal Guard himself, Pfhlurrt!  No one else in the kingdom could be trusted with keeping quiet about this whole situation, and the quieter the better, for all concerned.

***Tune in tomorrow for part 2***

The sea is calling…

This writer sails onward toward distant horizons…

I want to tell you so much about this amazing journey, but that might spoil it for everyone, and I want this story to be perfect! When you pick it up and read it, my hope is that it comes alive for you, as it has for me in writing it.

More than anything, I desire for you to laugh when I laughed, and cry when I cried. I want you to feel the blood rushing through your veins, just like mine, in the moments of intensity. Hopefully, the world in which I write about, should come to life when you open the books cover. Above all else, there should be love binding the whole thing together, with its threads holding each page in place firmly.

Though I may not know what is to come, I know my God! He has given me a strong mind, wild imagination, and the passion and stubbornness to see this thing done!

When I say that I’m just getting started, as a writer, I mean it! Seriously, this book is just the beginning of a great adventure, unlike I’ve ever been on before in all my days!

While I would never feel worthy to challenge author’s such as Rawlings, Tolkien, Lewis, or even Salvatore… I would offer each of them a cookie!

Note to self… never ride a three wheeler in the mud, wearing shorts and sneakers… and with a friend who squeeze’s the throttle when she panics!

All I remember, was gunning it across the field… sliding… hitting a mud bank and vaulting full speed over it… lifting free of the seat and floating in the air for an instant… and then landing back down on the seat behind my friend.

In the chaos that followed, my friend accidentally hit the throttle, gassing it and throwing us forward, causing my foot to come free from the floorboard. When my foot came back down, the big knobby tire grabbed hold of it and pulled me off the bike… where my friend promptly ran me over.

One might say that this was my first crush!

Just saying,

Here, have a cookie…