Poetry Friday: Squirrels, Transcendalists, Talents

I watched a Western Gray Squirrel jump along the fence at my mother's house today - fat little guy, but nimble. It's hard not to like a squirrel, even if it is, by nature, a scold, and even if it eats the cherries from my cherry trees before they can ripen - squirrels are in cahoots with the crows on this. They also bury peanut shells around/among the perennials in my yard - where they get the peanuts, I have no idea, but when I turn the dirt, I find the shells. Still, I like squirrels. Such tails! Such chatter! Such unrepentant self-regard! In their honor, I offer up this poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson, who must have felt the same about the critters. The bottom line of this fable is right there for all to see: "Talents differ."

Fable

The mountain and the squirrel  

Had a quarrel;  

And the former called the latter ‘Little Prig.’

Bun replied,  

‘You are doubtless very big;         

But all sorts of things and weather  

Must be taken in together,  

To make up a year  

And a sphere.  

And I think it no disgrace  

To occupy my place.  

If I’m not so large as you,  

You are not so small as I,  

And not half so spry.  

I’ll not deny you make  

A very pretty squirrel track;  

Talents differ; all is well and wisely put;  

If I cannot carry forests on my back,  

Neither can you crack a nut.’

I think I'll memorize this poem, and when things come along that I don't understand, I'll just say, "...all sorts of things and weather / Must be taken in together, / To make up a year / And a sphere."  Thanks again to Mr. Emerson, for transcendentalism and for thoughts on the souls of things large and small.

 

Ralph Waldo Emerson

 The round-up for today's Poetry Friday is over at Buffy's Blog  (thanks, Buffy.) Head over there to see what other people have posted.