“Moose Feathers”

 

Along the shores of Hidden Lake,

 where cattails give way to ferns,

 there lives a yearling moose,

 the bullfrogs nicknamed Vern

 

He is a vegetarian,

 seaweed and underwater plants,

 are gourmet delights to him,

 as if a feast in southern France

 

Vern is at home among the lily pads,

 the dragonflies and perch,

 when nightfall comes he makes his bed,

 beneath the aspen, pines, and birch

 

Being orphaned as a baby,

 he didn’t have a clue,

 when his antlers started sprouting,

 what they’d finally put him through

 

Like the plants that he was munching,

 they soon grew both strong and lean,

 while the birds were busy building nests,

 on the spaces in between

 

Now Vern was the type of moose,

 that was into company,

 but before too long he felt as if,

 he’d become a walking tree

 

Not to mention there were woodpeckers,

 that sometimes drilled upon his head,

 and all the baby chicks that chirped,

 when it was time for bed

 

Vern played host for all that year,

 till antler shedding time,

 when his friends moved to a pine tree,

 where they’re doing simply fine

 

While some may say this story,

 is like feathers on a moose,

 nothing is impossible,

 to the friends of Dr. Seuss ©.

 

By the way, Vern now has calves,

 and he can’t wait till they grow nests,

 toss some bread crumbs to the birds,

 Vern still sends us all his best . . .

 

Virginia City, Nevada

 © 05/25/04