Missing

The rat that lately ate the rinds

        and crusts on tables laid for birds

                has not been seen for days.

 

The squirrel who outwits the rat

        and steals the meals of sunflower seeds

               within the feeders in the trees

                has not been seen for days.

 

The field mice which within a trice

        while rat and squirrel dodge and joust

                will plunder all the sweet pea shoots

                and scamper through the rat run routes

                have not been seen for days.

 

The rooks and ravens in the trees

        that in the breeze in twilight skies

               fill up the air with bedtime noise

               while others in the garden feast

               or live and play in wildly ways

               have not been seen for days.

 

The slugs and snails that slither out

        at night from under flower pots

                 creating holes in hosta leaves

                 then chomp their way through hollyhocks

                 that field mice in their haste forgot

                 as gardeners go to sleep and dream

                 have not been seen for days.

 

The bats under the moon and stars

        with nightly aerobatic flights

                above and through the canopies

                of bush and tree or over roofs

                by aerials and chimney stacks

                displaying death-defying skills

                in search of tasty insect snacks

                have not been seen for days.

 

Their hues of feather, fur and skin

enrich the world and life within

I miss their blacks and browns and greys

I hope these guys are all ok ...