GNAWty by nature

GNAWty by Nature

Seasonal Rehab poetry and musings

�The Tale of the SQUIRREL FROM HELL�

Though haunted-house stories can strike fear in our hearts
And a fright scene that�s gory can give us a start
There�s one that is apt to make most rehabbers cringe,
At the sight of an oversized feeding syringe

They know with some certainty, ah, they know it too well
That it heralds the arrival of the Squirrel From Hell

He could be a neonate, or an eyes-open cutie
Abandoned or injured
He is our call to duty:

We sub-Q, rehydrate
We feed �til he�s well
Without ever knowing he�s the Squirrel From Hell

We�re proud of his progress, new sharp teeth, coat gleaming
But at 12 weeks we notice, this guy�s still not weaning!!

The squirrel is growing so very much stronger
And feedings are taking a big whole lot longer,
10 minutes turns an hour,10 p.m. soon grows later:
The Squirrel stands and waits soon by our refrigerator!

He�s grown even larger than a squirrel is able
And one day pulls a chair up at our kitchen table!
It�s hard to keep track of all he is eating,
From sun-up to sundown, the day�s one big feeding.

He�s soon ordering pizza: Half-broccoli, Half-ZuPreem,
And soon has his voice on our answering machine.
�ENOUGH!� we cry out, �THIS MADNESS MUST CEASE�
and so it will end in a nice soft release.

Out to the cage or the pen in the wood
�THIS,� we say to ourselves, �can surely do EVERYONE good!�

And then Halloween morning we open the door.
The carpet of freedom is the lush forest floor
The nightmare is over, we�re breathing with ease:
A just-released REHABBER, living life in the trees!!

While back at the house is a scene without precedence:
A split-level nest�..with a new squirrel-in-residence.

A Beautiful Gem -An episode from Ramayana retold by Shanta Rameshwar Rad

While the monkeys were building the bridge, a small squirrel took pebbles in its mouth and brought them to the workers: These are to help in building the bridge to Lanka so that blessed Rama may bring back his wife. I must do my share of the work.' `You, what?' cried a monkey. `I am helping to build the bridge,
sir,' replied the squirrel. `Look, I am carrying the small pebbles that with your rocks will help to from the bridge.'

"The monkeys burst into a mighty roar of laughter. By this time a crowd of monkeys had collected and the first monkey roared out, Did you hear that? The squirrel says she's building a bridge with her pebbles! Haha! I've never heard anything so funny in my life.' The other monkeys thought it was a good joke too.
They held their sides and laughed. When they could laugh no more they said to the squirrel: `Here, little creature. Do you think Rama is in need of your pebbles? He commands the largest army in the Seven Worlds, and for him we carry whole mountains with their granite and rock. He does not want your little pebbles.'
The squirrel said, `I cannot carry mountains or rocks. God has only given me strength to carry my pebbles. I cannot do more, but this I will do, for my heart weeps for the sorrowing Rama,
and what I can do to help, I will.' The monkeys said, `Enough of your foolishness, little one. We have no time for play and for the likes of you. Go home to your nest in the trees and let us get on with our work.'
"But the squirrel would not go. Again and again the monkeys picked her up and put her down out of the way, and again and again she returned, with her pebbles. Then the monkeys were
angry and threatened to throw her into the sea. Still the squirrel said, `But I want to help too.' Then an angry monkey picked up the little squirrel and flung her away. But she, crying the name of Rama, fell into his hands, where he stood. And Rama held the little squirrel close to him and said to the monkeys,
`Despise not the weak and the small, for according to each man's strength will he serve. And to me what matters is not how great the strength and service, but how great the love and devotion.
This little squirrel with her pebbles has love in her heart that would move the earth and the heavens by its strength and power.' And he chid them for their pride. But the squirrel he held close to him and said: `Little one, your devotion has touched my heart. Be blessed then by me whom you have loved and served.'
So saying, he stroked the little squirrel's furry back. And as he put her down all who had crowded round saw upon the brown fur the three white lines that were the marks of Sri Rama's fingers.
And ever since, the Indian squirrel has carried the three white stripes on its back."

Little Things

You know that life can pass you by so swiftly ,an old man said so quickly
Today will never reappear
Wake up and smell the roses ,my day has begun
A toast of rain here comes the sun
I won't be fooled another year with glit and glamor no
It's Little Things that matter

I never noticed the things that lived outside my door
A choir of critters singing songs that I never heard before
An orphaned squirrel cried this girl wouldn't let it be
She raised it and set it free as she watched with mother's eyes
She turned to me and said "it's little things that matter "

Take a ride to a planet in the sky
Cause from there the earth looks like a speck in the night
Once again it's true ,that little things matter

Theres a mountain high forged by the lord's mighty hand
And he said "You see, it's made of tiny grains of sand"
It's the little things that matter

I have eternity to live outside my skin till then I'll live within
And all the creatures Kin
But when its time to leave,a star He'll send for me
You know He'll cause a scene

Squirrel Sanctuary Inc