Chipmunk nonet ~
Today I watched a chipmunk savage my sunflower seedlings,
digging with furious claws at the seedling pots
snuffling up an errant seed like cocaine.
No wonder no sunflowers ever sprouted!
Instead, one chipmunk grows sleeker
emboldened and sunflower fed.
I watch unobserved.
He devours
unaware.
Great fun! I’m curious how you might write it following the syllabic count 9 to 1. So much of the feel of this version lies in its mouthful of sounds – like the seeds themselves. And boy, do I resonate. In my case it’s rabbits. Same issue but with snap peas.
Thank you!
I absolutely spaced on this one, Sarah, to be honest. Didn’t realize until well after I finished (exhausted & brain dead!) that it was syllabic count… Sheesh. So here you go:
Chipmunk savaging sunflower seed pots
scrabbling with sharp furious claws
snuffling errant seed like coke
(sunflower seeds won’t sprout)
the chipmunk sleekens
sunflower fed
unobserved
I watch
caught
I love how the s sounds throughout the poem. I can see that chipmunk thief. I think it is really cool you pulled it off with number of words decreasing.
Thank you!
Love it!~ The snorting imagery really hit home, as I have been observing chipmunks since I was a kid, and they currently are running amok in my yard!
Well done.
Thank you!
This is golden! Great story!
This is amazing! The imagery and story in this one are very well done.
I did a nonet this year with word count. I liked it so I kept it that way. Did another to redeem that one. Love them both. Well done, yours. Please feel free to look at my poems too. Thanks!
Britton, you had me at “chipmunk!” This poem is so well constructed, very visual and fun to read! I loved your alliteration and you had some amazing lines, ” Like snuffling up an errant seed like cocaine.” This line is so vivid! Well done! My vote is this!