Today at dVerse Poetics, it is Open Link Night. We do not write poetry to a prompt but instead share a poetic offering. Come join us! Enough creativity to go around and share. I wrote about an unusual happening today.
Driving home from errands today,
Running full tilt through the high grass
On the shoulder of the road,
Was a woodchuck.
Like a hamster on steroids,
Galloping. Only word for it.
Galloping.
I slowed down and he
Passed me in.a.blur.
I wondered, where was he headed
In such a rush?
Was he hurrying to get back
To his family?
Did he have an appointment
And was late?
One doesn’t usually see woodchucks,
Groundhogs, whistle pigs, ground squirrels
Running by the side of the road.
One usually sees them on TV
Amidst a flurry of photographers
And people, all waiting for Phil
To foretell the weather –
How much longer would winter last?
Tell us Phil.
Let us take your picture Phil.
Let us roust you out of your warm, dark
Burrow and thrust you up in the air
For the crowds to see and scream
And flash lights in your confused eyes.
This year, you bit the wretched mayor
For doing that to you.
Personally, I applauded you and
Wished you had done it sooner.
But this whistle pig running
Down the side of the road…
Did he know about horses?
Was he having a fantasy
Of being a tall wild stallion
running free
Through long prairie grass?
I don’t know.
I just know it was an odd occurrence
And it made me smile…hugely.
kanzen sakura 
Apr 23, 2015 @ 16:07:37
hey – it makes me smile as well… i’ve never seen a ground hog in real… maybe spring gave him wings – you know… smiles
i love what you’ve done with in.a.blur.
Apr 23, 2015 @ 16:15:13
That’s it! He was running home from school where he learned about Pegasus! A friend of mine often does the period t.h.i.n.g to give emphasis to her words. I asked her once if I could steal it sometime and she very kindly said y.e.s!
Apr 23, 2015 @ 16:42:08
this technique is new to me too; might have to borrow it to go beyond-the-bar.
Apr 23, 2015 @ 16:50:48
I is indeed a fine thing to do. My friend does not write poetry, but in her emails to me and in some of her short stories, she uses those periods. I find it a wonderful thing. Her name is Tess at Let’s Cut the Crap, or How the Cookie Crumbles on WP. She writes wonderful 100 word flash fiction.
Apr 23, 2015 @ 16:29:05
Ah. love the thought of a galloping groundhog.. maybe he was in love and was running after his spring fling.. ?
Apr 23, 2015 @ 16:52:55
That is another thought! Another thought was he thought he had sprouted wings. Anyway, it is rather amazing to see them. They are very shy but will stand their ground. But it totally made.my.day.
Apr 23, 2015 @ 16:32:56
Reading about this groundhog made me smile, too. I loved your diversion into the whole Groundhog Day spectacle, which I’ve always thought ridiculous. I did not know Phil bit the mayor this year — that’s good to hear. Peace, Linda
Apr 23, 2015 @ 16:51:38
Ha! Another vote for Phil!!!!!!!
Apr 23, 2015 @ 16:44:57
Every once in a while we witness a critter doing something wonderful, erratic, bizarre & all we can do is suck our teeth, whistle through pursed lips, & as poets wonder about the.rest.of.the.story.
Apr 23, 2015 @ 16:49:06
This was indeed a whistle sucking moment and it was wonderful.
Apr 23, 2015 @ 18:09:33
That video is so funny, poor mayor, ha ~ I haven’t seen woodchunks around here either ~ They are probably hiding in their warm, dark burrow, smiles ~ I am smiling at the fantasy at the end ~ Hey, we need to shoo away winter very fast as its already end of April ~
Thanks for the smiles ~
Apr 23, 2015 @ 19:14:32
I’ll take out one of my fans and point it north and make it flutter back and forth and create a wind to blow away the winter! Most of the time, you never see groundhogs, esp. in the day. They are shy and keep to themselves but they will defend their territory. I felt sorry for poor Phil and glad he was able to get retribution for all the Phil’s before him. It is Almost May!!!!!!
Apr 23, 2015 @ 20:13:17
I know & thanks for blowing away the winter weather ~ We need all the warmth we could get from “spring”, ha ~
Apr 23, 2015 @ 20:32:26
It is getting cold tonight and cool tomorrow – only up to 6o but it is still April. I want spring!!!
Apr 23, 2015 @ 20:10:00
Very funny venture inside a groundhog’s head!
Apr 23, 2015 @ 20:31:20
He was definitely a rodent on a mission. 😊
Apr 23, 2015 @ 20:35:31
How wonderful when there is something in nature that really makes one stop and think and observe. I think we have to keep an open mind and continue to appreciate all of God’s creatures. Perhaps if we kept our eyes open WIDE more often we would see even more woodchucks in our midst. Could be. I enjoyed your poem, Toni.
Apr 23, 2015 @ 20:41:46
I am glad. it certainly made my day. I’ve told several friends, called my mother and told her (we once had a running joke about Mike the Woodchuck” and gave her a huge laugh. Rare these days and so precious.
Apr 23, 2015 @ 20:52:33
😀 😀 😀 Someone had posted that video after the mayor was bitten. I laughed my head off and again today. Your poem is uber delightful. The poem rolled like a movie in my head. That woodchuck grew character and a personality just by galloping down the side of the road. I so enjoyed this, Kanzen.
Thanks so much for the shout out. I’m tickled anyone likes the “.” separations but I wonder if I didn’t pick up the habit because I saw it somewhere and like it. In WP comments you can’t underline of bold a specific word you want to stand out, so now I use it without thinking. I also used dashes, but like the way the periods look better. 😀 😀 ❤
Apr 24, 2015 @ 09:35:52
Well, if you can’t remember where the “.” came from, I wouldn’t worry. I’ve been enjoying your use of that device as long as I have known you so…. That groundhog was indeed a hoot. he made my day. Those things can cover ground in an incredible manner. I’m glad he wasn’t chasing me!
Apr 24, 2015 @ 10:24:00
I’m glad the groundhog wasn’t chasing you as well. Was he nearly as big as you are? You could have taken care of him easy peasey.
😀 😀
Apr 24, 2015 @ 11:18:19
He was probably the size of Dickens or SamCat but about 2 pounds heavier. They actually can be vicious if in protective mode.
Apr 24, 2015 @ 18:30:50
Yes, I’ve heart they are fearless.
Apr 24, 2015 @ 18:37:09
And they have big teeth, Grandma!!!!
Apr 24, 2015 @ 18:41:13
I do not like BIG teeth. No sir. No way. 😀
Apr 24, 2015 @ 19:15:10
Rodents. Big rodents have big teeth. And they can get mean. Mostly though, they mind their own business.
Apr 25, 2015 @ 09:56:03
Thankfully I haven’t seen any except for a groundhog in my neighbor’s yard and that one only once.
Apr 25, 2015 @ 11:15:32
Thank goodness. I prefer them in the woods or galloping by the road.
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Tab®|PRO
Apr 25, 2015 @ 13:59:41
😀 😀 By the side of the road and inside a locked car, with the car moving. 😀
Apr 25, 2015 @ 21:13:12
😎 seriously cruising by!
Apr 26, 2015 @ 08:07:21
😀 😀 😀
Apr 23, 2015 @ 22:09:07
Made me smile as well 🙂
Apr 24, 2015 @ 08:40:14
🙂
Apr 24, 2015 @ 09:08:25
I saw a young groundhog sitting by the side of the road yesterday, just watching the world go by. They are so fun to see, even tho they can dig up a garden in a hurry. This was comical and fun – loved your galloping groundhog!
Apr 24, 2015 @ 09:30:11
I am so glad! They can tear up in a hurry and they can be wicked rascals too. But this one was just soo much fun.
Apr 24, 2015 @ 09:36:10
Smiles here too 🙂 Maybe the mission was a reenactment of a scene from The Wind in the Willows…
Apr 24, 2015 @ 10:07:58
That’s it!!!! After various theories, I think you came upon the answer.
Apr 24, 2015 @ 11:38:16
What a visual delight! definitely for spring, and for chasing away the winter blues!
Apr 24, 2015 @ 15:11:01
I’ve never seen one running like that. They usually waddle where they are going. Maybe he had winter in his mouth and was running someplace to spit it out and bury it.
Apr 24, 2015 @ 12:00:19
And now I’m smiling!! I love your personification of this guy!!
Apr 24, 2015 @ 15:10:03
I wish you could have seen him. He was definitely on a mission.
Apr 24, 2015 @ 13:17:31
Ah.. yes.. the ground hogs of the open world.. do not flee at
sighs of human being.. they live free as all of nature
can and will do..
when
simply
being free..:)
Apr 24, 2015 @ 15:09:27
I know this one sure made me happy!
Apr 24, 2015 @ 16:30:19
This made me laugh out loud! So funny and cleverly written.The image of this “ground hog-stallion wannabee” is forever ingrained in my mind.
It is such a coincidence that yesterday on my way home from work, on a busy road coming into town, a turkey…yes, a turkey was crossing the road. Why did the turkey cross the road?
To catch up with the ground hog?
Apr 24, 2015 @ 17:15:04
Haha! They were on their way to a re-enactment of Wind in the Willows…the turkey was the stage director, I’m sure.
Apr 24, 2015 @ 16:40:33
reminds me of a time I was cycling with a friend on a 60 mile ride or so. at the top of one hill awaited a dog looking at us – short on stubby legs. I thought crap – problems – when we got there he started running along side to race us.
Apr 24, 2015 @ 17:14:12
What fun he had! He probably told all his doggy friends about the temporary rolling pack he joined.
Apr 24, 2015 @ 16:42:07
Oh.. is your name Hayes ? How should I address you, if you wouldn’t mind. I can use any moniker you prefer.
Apr 24, 2015 @ 17:13:26
Toni – my first name. Lots of people who follow my blog call me Kanzen because of the name of the blog. Kanzen is fine because it gives that extra layer of security. Either one is fine. 😊
Apr 24, 2015 @ 18:00:28
I am sorry, Hayes, but I cannot see what you are aiming at with your poem. There is no interesting thought. And there is no connection between the opening and the ending of your poem.
Apr 24, 2015 @ 18:05:24
Sorry you can’t read a simple poem written just for fun. Thank you for your comment. Have a splendid day. 😊
Apr 25, 2015 @ 00:42:41
and your story made ME smile hugely!! 🙂
Apr 25, 2015 @ 12:03:37
Yayyyy! Mission accomplished. 😊
Apr 25, 2015 @ 10:38:14
As did your poem. Smiles….
Apr 25, 2015 @ 11:14:12
I am glad!
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Tab®|PRO
Apr 25, 2015 @ 18:48:28
Made me smile too. There is a golf course in Reno that is just full of these critters–my husband managed to hit one with his drive but it just scampered across the fairway, I like the horse fantasy idea. Why not?
Apr 25, 2015 @ 21:07:36
Why not indeed. With the way he was galloping, all he needed was a saddle and bridle and reins to be Trigger.
Apr 26, 2015 @ 16:14:45
How mighty that stallion must have been! I mean hog… hahah. I’ve never seen a groundhog in person… at least I don’t think… a few years ago I saw a big furry animal that sort of looked like a beaver without the tail. But it was dark and I wasn’t going out to get a closer look..
Apr 26, 2015 @ 18:36:47
Then you probably saw a ground hog. If it was foraging for food, I’m glad you stayed put! And oh, that was indeed a mighty stallion galloping through the long grass.
Apr 27, 2015 @ 03:51:15
Your words (and the video) made me smile. Our furry/hairy friends have no qualms of making their feeling of annoyance known – good on’m!
Anna :o]
Apr 27, 2015 @ 08:24:53
I am so glad this made you smile. No, our furry friends do not hesitate. I think we have much to learn from them. Ive always disliked that spectacle for Ground Hog’s Day and I am so glad one of the critters finally had had enough. I think there may be some changes made in future events. Or, at least I hope so!
Apr 27, 2015 @ 13:00:27
I am smiling hugely…I love gophers….. My ancestors cringe when I say that, being farmers who received $0.25 for each tail they could collect. I think the Gophers are happy little creatures and whenever I see them I call them my little friends. I am glad the Mayor was bit. In ancient times, it was called Imbolic throughout Scotland and Ireland or St. Brigid’s’ Day. It celebrates the time 1/2 way between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, traditionally lambing season. The ground hog connection is derived from the practice of weather divination related to watching badgers or snakes leave their dens. Note the word watch, not go in and pull them out. I believe it is one of the pagan traditions adopted by the Catholic Church in an effort to convert non Christian subjects. In love and light Cheryle
Apr 27, 2015 @ 16:03:24
I’m glad you liked! Thank you for all the information about them as well. They are interesting folk to be sure. I don’t like the pulling them out either and I hope the biting of the mayor will bring about some changes.
Apr 28, 2015 @ 16:03:32
Your wonderful poem made me smile….love it that he bit the mayor, LOL………how unusual to see one galloping. I hope he got where he was going safely. Thank you for your wonderful comment on my site….you made my day!
Apr 28, 2015 @ 16:04:56
Your poem and your comment truly made my week! 😊