Early Morning Groundhog

For BYUI's Last Poet Standing
week two: Groundhog's day

Early Morning Groundhog

Bead bright button eyes

and mussed, stubbled fur

tawny brindled black...

The groundhog would like 

to go back to sleep.

Yawn, all tongue and teeth

a sigh heavy with

winter flower breath...

The groundhog would like 

to go back to sleep.

Her burrow is filled

with dried leaves that 

crackle under paw...

The groundhog would like 

to go back to sleep.

But noise from above,

stomping, cheering crowd

Much too loud, too loud

The groundhog would like

to go back to sleep.

A five fingered paw

reaches inside home

with food, coaxes her

The groundhog would like

to go back to sleep.

But no, too loud, loud

she pokes her head up

as if to say: hey

This groundhog  would like

to go back to sleep.

Sun is out, and bright

too bright for bead eyes

she chatters, angry,

This groundhog would like

to go back to sleep.

She has eyes only

for the mob of folk

that don’t hear her say

This groundhog would like

to go back to sleep.

So many of them

standing in the snow

waiting for her, why?

The groundhog would like

to go back to sleep.

Again, she chatters

they don’t understand

It’s early she squeaks,

The groundhog would like 

to go back to sleep.

No, instead they cheer

Spring is here, spring! Here!

don’t know what THAT means.

The groundhog would like 

to go back to sleep.

And so she does.

It’s her day, after all.