Not afraid to trade
Your hollowed out haven
For a spot by the sea
Salty winds ruffle your coat
Sun dappled and sleek
But you remain passive
Despite your petition for peanuts
Spirit born from these rocks
Is not wavered by the waves
For they are larger than life
Serving only as a backdrop
To your tiny hold on this world
Posted for dVerse Poet’s Pub, in response to “Poetics: Animal Symbolism or Antics”
mishunderstood 
your squirrels look a bit thicker than our grey squirrels…i love watching our squirrels play…never thought of squirrels by the sea though…what a beach house they have eh? smiles…i’m totally a sucker for tossing them extra food…
The squirrels that live in my area are bushier…grey or black in colour. These ones freaked me out! There were dozens of them just sunning themselves on a California beach. When I saw peanut shells in the sand, I wished I had brought some too. I found it very strange that they would live in such an open environment.
i like squirrels. they are amusing to watch.
They are definitely entertaining. Thanks for stopping in. 🙂
So sweet, this poem, and its “tiny hold on this world.” Loved it. I always love poems that recognize the small critters…..they are so often overlooked..
Thank you, Sherry. 🙂
I’ve never seen squirrels on a beach before… and yes, they seem almost like a blend between grey and red squirrels. ‘your tiny hold on this world’ is rather an affecting line, had me snuffling a little (I often see squashed squirrels by the wayside).
Thanks for your comments. I’m surprised I haven’t caused an accident by swerving from them.
I would venture that they are ground squirrels. They would be living in burroughs under the beach rocks. My mountain is well populated by these little beings.
Yes, ground squirrels which I had never heard of before. I thought they were beautiful. 🙂
ah. these squirrels are quite diifferent than the one we have here.. ours are red and have long silky tails… wonderful creatures…
They are very different than the ones here too. I was so surprised to see squirrels on a California beach. Thanks for commenting. 🙂
My guess is that these are in NoCal, perhaps near Mendicino? I lived in Half Moon Bay, but never saw them, nor in SoCal where I grew up. I would guess they are near fir trees etc. I like how you used the 2nd person to speak to them…works well.
Thank you…and thanks for taking the time to stop by. 🙂
Like Victoria, I loved your approach. The photos were great, but I had no idea what they were until I read the comments – they don’t look anything like our growing population of chestnut colored squirrels.
Thanks so much. 🙂
Love “petition for peanuts,” especially. We love to feed the critters at Lake Tahoe. Fun to see them by the water. 🙂
Thanks for commenting. It is interesting to find them in non typical settings. 🙂
Beach squirrels??? I SOOOOOO need to get out more – fun captures and words! 🙂
Haha! Thanks, Joanne. 🙂
big smiles
~
black squirrel sighting
today
~
with my daughter
Isn’t it great? Something so simple but amazing to a child. We can learn from our children. 🙂