The Art of War
My geraniums were tore
all to hell and I suspected
a squirrel was to blame
his bastard paws parting
the soil to pocket a nut
I do not mind battle, the excitement
carries one through
The next morning
the squirrel was laid out
just beyond the swiss chard
as if fainted dead away
unmarred, waiting for
someone to palpate his apron
soft and white and covered in flies –
I ate but was not satisfied
with nuts in their season
No one wanted to fool
with the dead squirrel
in the backyard except
the new world vultures
who were happy
to apply for the job
Two kinds live in this garden
The dead and us
Then another showed up
in the bare branches of the pink oak
and another and another
willing collectors of carrion
discussing meat disposal
Battles are won by slaughter and maneuver,
But when your enemies lay before you, rejoice
20 thoughts on "The Art of War"
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Wow! The counterpoint here—breezy contemporary dancing with solemn eternity—is striking and effective. Beautifully done, Liz.
Just incredible, everything about it.
Title, vernacular, structure … the list goes on, you know.
Oh this is good, really good.
Thanks for sharing this. I ” rejoice “
encourages reading again and again.
a seamless circle.
“The dead and us.” You capture the circle of life here in a personal way. Enjoyed it!
You’re so good.
I really enjoyed the tone of this piece with its movement and form; loved “Then another showed up/in the bare branches of the pink oak.”
i appreciate the back and forth movement, and couplet chanting
Woof!
Yes, enjoyed the back-and-forth of this poem and the circle of life
Each section is its own brilliant story. Love the idea of vultures “discussing meat disposal.”
Love it!
“I do not mind the
battle, the excitement
carries one
through.”
Rejoice!
The perspective (and because of it, the introspection) in this poem are striking and so well done.
Brilliant! Love “unmarred, waiting for/ someone to palpate his apron/ soft and white and covered in flies.”
I love the very functional response to the dead squirrel. This feels like a poem for two voices that would be really great read aloud by two people.
Agreed!
Ah. I love this
Whew!
Brilliant of course.
And “the two kinds who live in this garden…”
Just wow!
You absolutely amaze me. Clean, powerful precision. You would think you were a professional writer! (wink, wink)
Mostly maneuver, of course by skillfully observing from a respectable distance. But when your enemies lay before you, rejoice
Great work here.