Two raccoons living under the porch
Slinking along the night-dark streets.
One coyote in a den on the bluff
Hunting urban creatures, rats and cats.
A family of skunks in single file
A black-and-white parade in the alleyway.
An owl perched atop the water tower
Heralding his home to all who can hear.
Possums everywhere, they like chicken coops,
Acrobatic squirrels grabbing nuts
From the tall old street trees.
Twelve crows shouting at the squirrels
Raucous bosses they pretend to be.
Little lively chickadees flit here and there
Snatching bugs, ignoring the crows.
It’s a jungle out there, my neighborhood.