She tears up at the breakfast table

her little wild squirrel named Stumpy

has not come back

to peek in her window

to eat out of her hand

to beg for a handout on her porch

where was the inquisitive squirrel

who always stopped by to say hello

 

she named it Stumpy

for the fact that it had no tail

it had become a regular in her backyard

a friend in the wild

who somehow adapted

despite the fact it had no tail

a disadvantaged squirrel

who miraculously survived

 

stealing from the bird feeder

climbing the oak tree

talking to her in squirrel chatter

it had become a part of her life

as any child might be

she protected it

looked forward to its visits

came to love it in a personal way

 

Stumpy was her daily companion

and its visits became the highlight of her day

the thing she looked forward to

the squirrel became her company

always coming around

for treats and attention

it always came back

except for this once

 

now it had not been seen for weeks

and there was little doubt

something had happened to it

and so she cries for the little squirrel

who had become a dear friend

a very unique squirrel

who came everyday to talk to her

and delight her with its personality

and its closeness

 

this time Stumpy did not come back

and she missed it terribly

now she weeps in its remembering

and mourns for it

as one would for any good friend

who passes from this earth

her furry friend who will always

have a place in her soft heart

 

a special squirrel

in God's creation

worth noting with a poem.