Yard, Gardens, Birds and Critters

Bluebird vs. The Squirrel By Mary J Williams © I was outside Just checking on things Listening for birds And hearing them sing I heard the Bluebird Couldn’t see him yet I will keep looking Usually I do, you bet! I saw a squirrel running As fast as he could Up a tree and down Is he up to no good? I couldn’t believe my eyes When I saw the flash of blue There was a Bluebird Chasing the squirrel, who knew? Never have seen Something like that before Bluebird hot on the squirrel’s tail Hoping to make a score Bet the Bluebird had a chick The squirrel got too near Bluebird was giving The squirrel something to fear In the tree and out Down on the ground he went Across the street lickity split Out of the area the squirrel was sent Into the bushes Way across the street They went out of sight I think the squirrel was beat The Bluebird was back Up on the line in a little while And I swear to you I think I saw him smile   5-3-2025    

My Clock By Mary J Williams I have a dog Lacy is her name What do you think Is her claim to fame It’s that clock of hers You know what time it is She will star whining Then I start the quiz What? Why are you whining I look at the clock Not time for anything Not time for a walk I know what it is I figured it out I was not in our room Time for her to pout Her alarms go off Several times a day “Not time yet” Is something I say First thing in the morning When it’s time for a treat First alarm rings For something to eat Then it’s around eleven When it’s time for lunch She should know by now Not given things to munch About 1:15 p.m. The whining starts in Supper is at 2 Not time yet, gets to wear thin Then before 3 She starts in again I need to start supper She is such a pain Around 6 p.m. That is final call Want’s those Zuke’s then Picks them up where they fall She follows me around Just outside the door If I’m in the bathroom Will be laying on the floor She is my whiny shadow I love her a l...

 Lacy’s Bed By Mary J Williams Lacy had an accident Peed in the bed I had to wash all the bedding Too much, no more I dread I brought in the bed That Rosebud used to sleep Laid it on the floor Hope Lacy will keep Only took about a week For her to learn The bed was there for her I wasn’t very concerned A week passed And another incident came Lacy peed on the floor Seizures are to blame I got most of the pee up And sprinkled baking soda on Helps with the odors And drying, then pee is gone The bed is on the side Where the side table is placed I have to walk over it It is perfectly spaced Have to climb over To reach the dresser now Just have to be careful Best for Lacy, I vow The baking soda laid there For a couple of days Was going to vacuum it up I didn’t yet, what can I say This morning, I noticed The bed had been moved It covered the soda Lacy wants the area improved Guess I better vacuum Today would be good Later won’t move the bed Don’t think I should 12-4-2024 where the soda was...

Pine Siskins By Mary J Williams I went to Birds-I-View Just the other day Bought more seed Steve had lots to say Talked about the birds He has seen outside Also, birds he heard But continue to hide Talked about a bird He hasn’t seen yet The little Pine Siskin It won’t be long I bet A dream came up While sleeping in my bed About the Pine Siskin Outside, just ahead Fliting in some vines Hanging from a tree I wanted to take a picture But they saw me They flew away quick As I turned to go inside Hopefully I got my camera But they were gone, I cried. Steve is really lucky I was going to give him a call No phone number for home And no birds at all It was one of my dreams That are so very real I had to write this down A poem to seal the deal 12-4-2024

My Mockingbird Again By Mary J Williams © I saw the Mockingbird In the top of a tree I feel blessed Another picture of he Yes, the males do the songs Trying to find a female He sings many songs Up and down the scales Up in the neighbor’s tree And then he flew away Thought I would see him Some other day Then there he was again Over to another one Going to take a picture Before he is done I take a couple quickly Then he was gone Didn’t see him there And he wasn’t on the lawn They sing way up high They want the world to hear The beautiful songs he sings Hoping a female is near I am glad he returned My camera and I were ready With as much zoom I used I have to hold it steady A couple of great pictures And now one will be on here A watermark of the best I think it’s pretty clear 10-14-2024

The Northern Mockingbird By Mary J Williams © I have heard you Singing your song But when I go on the deck You are always gone Where are you Way up in the trees I can’t find you at all It is never easy Saw a bird perching When I went on the deck On the fence post I couldn’t ID it, by heck Went inside the house Grabbed my camera from inside Hoping the bird was still there And didn’t fly off and hide It was still on the fence post Zoomed in to see An Eastern Bluebird He turned and looked at me I got a couple of pictures And then he flew away I heard the song of the Mockingbird Coming my way Looked over to the left And there he was On the neighbor’s birdhouse pole Singing, that’s what he does After a couple of pictures He flew away I figure I would see him On another day I was thrilled to see him I love to hear him sing They have so many songs Songs to the heart he brings 10-14-2024 They are around the house a lot The Northern Mockingbird 

The Cat And The Chipmunk By Mary J Williams © My neighbor has a cat That roams the neighborhood Sometimes he comes to see me I’d probably keep him if I could A yellow cat is he This cat that roams around Most of the time I see him He is laying on the ground Yesterday was no exception He was in the other neighbor’s yard Just lying there, I thought But looked like he was on guard Next thing I know He is up and does a pounce Something he was after Did a little bounce This happened over and over I finally went inside the house Grabbed my camera with the zoom Thinking to see a mouse The cat was teasing a chipmunk A tiny little thing I know I cuss those critters But right now, sadness it did bring I went over to where they were I chased the cat away Little chipmunk crawled on my foot Thanking me in his way Then the little thing Took off as fast as he could He knew he was safe for now Ran from where I stood A great large stand of myrtle Vines lying all around Little chipmunk ran right in Hope...

  Standing On The Deck By Mary J Williams © Outside on the deck Checking the water for birds Making sure plants are okay And then a caw I heard A crow was talking loudly Over and over again I decided to answer And said hello to him He cawed back Again, I said hi Asked him what was wrong He cawed his reply I didn’t understand Crow talk is not my thing Although I told him to come to me An answer it did bring Many caws are sounding He is telling me something I know What he is saying I think I need to learn crow Ah, what is that movement Chipmunks running around Over there on the deck Two there on the ground Now I hear the crow again He sounds closer to me I think he is coming I hope I can see Overhead he flys I said stop right here He ignored me, he did Flew over, no more is he near The chipmunks are gone too They found a hole under the deck Guess I will go inside too The show is over, nothing more to check                 ...

The Flying Squirrel By Mary J Williams © Standing at the sink Doing the dishes Looked outside Squirrel cleaning up dishes Grape jelly I put out For the orioles They haven’t been here But the squirrel sure knows I went out the door Yelled at him to leave This isn’t the first time I am really peeved That squirrel faded left Then he faded right Next thing I knew He had taken flight Off the banister deck To the ground below Watching him fly How far did he go? One day I’ll get the tape out And try to measure it This is not the first time I doubt he will quit It’s not really flying But a very long jump I am utterly amazed He lands without a thump   5-1-2024

My Shadow By Mary J Williams © I have a shadow That follows me around It has four legs And to me she is bound When her buddy died I took her place Wherever I go This shadow keeps pace I walk to the bathroom And she lays outside the door Doesn’t come in often Mostly she sleeps and snores Going to the kitchen She looks over her shoulder Making sure I’m still coming Imaginary leash holder I feel sad for her She misses her friend She even smells the ground Wonder when this will end. Her scent is still around My shadow knows she’s there Even though the floors Don’t have as much of her hair If you haven’t guessed My shadow that follows me Is my other dog Lacy No matter where I go, she is what I see I love this little shadow I am happy she is around Hope for a long time We will always be bound. Lacy- my little shadow

It's All About The Weather By Mary J Williams  © It was February  When the weather was weird All of the changes Were really feared This really happened From one day to the next I'm not making this up More than just me was certainly vexed The temperature soared To eighty-one degrees Then we were told It was going to freeze Maybe some rain Mixed with some snow This is Missouri So, anything goes On February the 27th Was the day we will remember The temperature was 81 And no, it's not September The forecast came And shocked us all February the 28th Rain and snow should fall I didn't think it would watching the temperature drop From that balmy 81 to the 30's Went to bed and it didn't stop The 28th of February I got up to let the dog out Oh, my God, look Lacy That is snow all about I laughed and got my camera I just had to take a pic otherwise no one would believe they'd probably think I was sick The temperature now was lower down to 20 degrees Snow was on the gro...

Rosebud’s Hair By Mary J Williams © Is used to be a daily thing When walking across the floor My shoes picked up dog hair But not as much any more Rosebud was part Corgi The sheddingest dog around When she walked Her hair fell to the ground I don’t mean just one or two I’m talking about a lot Always wondered why She wasn’t bald with all that dropped I have a black desk mat That that lays under my chair Every day at least 3 times I vacuumed hair that landed there I carried a lot of the hair On the bottoms of my shoes Jim’s walker’s wheels Collected a lot too Rosebud passed away It’s only been six days The hair usually under my feet Where, magically, no more lays I miss my dog so much I don’t miss all the hair Feel so bad about that It’s not so very fair I am judging myself Feel bad that I am glad Not missing all that hair Does that mean I am bad? Just know one thing Rosebud was a friend I really am going to miss her  Just not all her hair in the end! 2022 2022

On Losing A Family Member By Mary J Williams © She may have 4 paws And a tail that wiggles My friendly dog That made me giggle She loved to chase squirrels Until they were out of sight Just showing them Catching them she might I lost this dear friend On February 18, 2024 My little Rosebud Knocked at Heavens door I am going to miss her She was with us for twelve years Every time I think of her My eyes fill up with tears Her other companion Of the four-legged kind Lacy, her buddy Still has her in her mind She won’t come in the room She spent most of her days Her buddy isn’t with her So, she just stays away It’s not been very long About three days is all I’m sure it will be better The good times we will recall So, Rosebud, we loved you With all of our hearts Just remember Rosebud We actually will never part Will think of you often And when it’s my time to go I will meet up with you again  The Good Lord will make it so                 ...