Page 48 - jan2024

January 2024 January 2024
POETRY CORNER was swimming an inch or so underwater. Their long nose coupled with their
venomous saliva makes these creatures so fascinating! The water shrew is our
Regular readers will have seen the largest shrew, living in wetlands and hunting caddisfly and mayfly larvae.
poems from Eileen Richardson over Poking the Bear Suprisingly, these fantastic swimmers lack webbed feet and instead have stiff hairs
many years. Even after Eileen on their back feet and use their tails to help them swim. What a fantastic creature
passed away, her daughter, Lesley, The sun rises in the morning. to have welcomed back to Wild Woodbury. The field vole is a common small
continued to send them in as Eileen The clouds roll over the blue. mammal and can be seen scuttling within the grass with each step taken. The
had been a prolific songwriter and longer sward has given these wonderful creatures more cover, and each metre
poet throughout her life. Who knows what’s round the corner, squared is patterned with the runs of these mammals. Male field voles are fiercely
Or what may happen to you? defensive of their territories and produce a musky unpleasant smell during the
Now that Eileen’s former home in the Without being pessimistic, breeding season. They can produce three to six litters of up to seven young per
village has been sold, with a new year, so it’s no wonder that these prolific breeders are thriving in their newly
family moving in soon, Lesley has You could end up as a snack. created habitat!
decided that now is an appropriate If, when you poke a bear,
time to end these contributions. We It decides to poke you back. With so many small mammals on site, the reptile populations are growing, we are
are very grateful that they initiated starting to see birds of prey more regularly, and even seeing uncommon species
this Poetry Corner section and Don’t go looking for trouble. on site such as the great grey shrike.
pleased that Paul Openshaw is When trouble comes looking for you, I look forward to meeting many members of the community and sharing our
continuing to keep us all entertained Weigh up the situation, wonderful site together. If you would like to get in touch, then please email me:
with his regular verses. If there are If you’re not sure what to do. Daisy Meadowcroft dmeadowcroft@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk
any more poets in the community, Fulfil your obligations,
we occasionally hear from Chris
Nother, then I would be delighted to But, never be tardy or slack,
hear from you. If, when you poke a bear,
It decides to poke you back.
Alison - Editor
If your carnivore is grumpy,
Try to stay level and calm.
New Year's Day He could be toting a weapon,
And out to cause you harm.
Now it's twenty-twenty four, Body-swerve the danger,
And no longer twenty-twenty three Whether grizzly, brown or black,
A space has appeared in our house, If, when you poke a bear,
Where Christmas used to be. It decides to poke you back.

Who can know what lies ahead? The sun goes down in the evening,
Will it be a happy new year? Then disappears from view.
It's not for me to say.
Who knows what may appear? Who knows what lies in wait,
Or what may happen to you?
May you have the strength to cope, And who knows what may lurk,
With whatever comes your way. On or off the beaten track?
That is my wish for you, If, when you poke a bear,
On this, our new year's day.
It decides to poke you back.
Paul J Openshaw (December 2023) Paul J Openshaw (September 2021)

48 17