Autumn Leaves
It was a sunny autumn day
I decided to walk my way
over to the city centre mall
witnessed leaves wither and fall
although I adore nature much
I also love hearing the crunch
sound when I step on them
basking in the sun, I am a friend
absorbing the warmth, vitamin D
sitting underneath a fern tree
light green and brownish tones
crisp air caressing my bones;
cold nose, watery eyes inspect
birds chirping, breadcrumbs pecked
by purple & turquoise-tinted pigeons
existing, unaffected by religion
and synthetic traditions, free
to be part of a defined society
maybe they have it better than me?
Survival of the Squirrel
The sun seeps through cumulus clouds as they pass in the gray-blue sky
reflecting images of trees shook bare by winds on building window panes
branches break off and land on the Earth, getting buried by dirt piled high
squirrels scurry; in an effort to eat, a daily exploration never mundane
sensing their place on the food chain; avoiding encounters with big-eyed
owls or coyotes in hopes they won’t become lunch, endurance is their domain
maintaining quick reflexes and sharp claws assist with their sprint and climb
atop trees for safety, shade, as their bushy tails wave, bathing when it rains
these slender-bodied beings with soft and silky fur breed only one or two times
a year, the female cares for and protects her dear offspring in a style so humane
to prolong the survival of the squirrel, repeating the cycle of life is prime.
by Summer Fanous
photo courtesy Liz West (CC-BY-SA)
