vermontpoem #38
first night here 2:30 a.m. terrible
crying strange not an owl could
it be a dog trapped somewhere
in the woods no not a dog it’s
like nothing I’ve ever heard but
what to do I can’t go plowing
into the brush but then came quiet
next day a report – all had been
eating at the long row of picnic
tables a raccoon came stumbling
under the tables between everyone’s
feet they scrambled onto the benches
the animal swayed out into the trees
it seemed sick in body and mind police
said shoot it it’s probably hydrophobia
but it was gone I think it died later
that night in awful pain in woods near
me alan heard it too and he agrees
©2014 Jacqueline Jackson
This article appears in Aug 7-13, 2014.
