Hitting up the big life in NM-- meeting new friends that crawl, jumping on the trampoline, hunting for mushrooms-- the regular life that most ordinarily exists out here. But prior to coming to NM from Oregon, I met a dear friend with whom I had always dreamed of encountering. And right before I departed, we incidentally collided. It was an extreme encounter. So, I share a little jingle-- a little jangle-- in his (or perhaps her) honor:
Twas a washin my face and a cleanin the skin
With my contacts out and the shutter came again
I clenched my arms and squinched my eyes
Who was that a twattin outside the outhouse door?
Trying to tank on in-- in some form of disguise?
Then I saw those five curled toes that clutched the door
I heard not a sound, but I could hear the roar--
Yes, the roar of the wild trying to see
What did you want?? What!! You wanted to greet me?
I grabbed the jutted edge of the door and opened with a swing
To see your tiny head poking out-- while dressed in a white and black coating
As you, wide-eyed and scared, gazed daringly into my face
And I grinned and in shock attempted not to hyperventilate!
Excited! Excited! I wanted to squeeze your little being
For so long I had wished and prayed your arrival
And not to my dismay, you came so blissfully!
But you stayed not so long--as I held my arms open wide-- ready to embrace.
But oh no! You turned, lifted that fluffy tail,
And caused me to hesitate.
Time paused as I awaited blindly for your stench of fear.
But you lifted that tail and glanced back, saying,
"Beth, today, I got no stank for you in my rear."
Then he scurried into the woods to venture into the night
Leaving me peacefully in the bathroom-- with no stink and no fright.
Stinkin and a stunk-in? Or a'smellin' a dear skunk-in?
