grape vines ripped out
from the protective cocoon
by human hands that don’t realize
the secret hidden inside
what they prune
mama gently grabs her baby
In her mouth and climbs through
the briar branches – a tunnel
of sweet roses, thorns, and twigs
and scurries and hurries to
find a new home for her little one
she pauses once as the human looks
at her and softly says, “Hello there!”
in awe and wonder and then she
continues on her journey to make
a new nest for her little rat kit
in the roses, thorns, and twigs
-Karen Molenaar Terrell