151 Comments
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Dawn Owens's avatar

Oh my god, how that speaks to me...

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Grace Zacaroli's avatar

Beautiful! Thank you.

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Jan Myhre's avatar

Thank you for this insightful poem. Prompts me to examine my childhood a bit deeper to find out why I always had my dukes up.

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Simon Brooks's avatar

Sherman, this is so wonderful. Yes! Here's to our spirit beings helping us through the nightmares. Just don't get too close to Boston squirrels, mate! They attack!

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Chloe Hope's avatar

I shared this with someone very special to me, and it brought him a lot of healing. Thank you for what you do, Sherman

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Suzanne Smith's avatar

Thank you Betty. I was however, never a cool kid. Odd and interesting perhaps. Capable. Friend to all.

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Cheri Berry's avatar

I live this. Good poems find a way to speak to so many different people. Thank you!

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Rosemary Van Gelderen's avatar

I hid money. Then was accused of stealing. I guess technically it was stolen. Great poem! I like squirrels. We have a pure white one in the neighbourhood.

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Trudi Nicola's avatar

So good! I felt every word.

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Perry J. Greenbaum 🇨🇦 🦜's avatar

This is an excellent poem, Sherman, sincere and honest, even in its admission that squirrels are intelligent beings. I have been observing and laying down nuts for the squirrels that visit me each morning. Since winter is coming, and winter is serious business here, the squirrels are hiding their nuts. They are such amazing hard-working animals.

Last point: they get along with the blue jays and cardinals, at least in my tiny urban yard they do.

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Will Boucher's avatar

this has more layers than an onion and (like an onion) makes my eyes leak. beautiful work.

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Kimberly Carter's avatar

The way my eyes hit the divisions and line breaks does something to inside of me. Thank you for reminding me of what I need to see inside myself and for why I love poems (I had forgotten).

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Imola's avatar

This poem is breaking my heart :(

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Gregory Wredberg's avatar

Woah (: I got chills at the end. Very good, thanks!

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

Thanks, Gregory.

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M. Ellie Avegno's avatar

Touched on several levels and seeing more!

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

Thank you!

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Kathleen Wallace's avatar

Yes indeedy! Felt that, thanks for your articulation of these thoughts.

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

Thank you, Kathleen.

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