Looks Can be Deceiving

-

 Simply 6 Minutes

110 words, unfinished

Oh, I had so much more to say about these cute little guys than six minutes allowed!

photo prompt


     You don’t fool me, little raccoon!  Looking so cute and pleading to be scooped up!  I know raccoons, and you only look innocent and cuddly.   

     Take a look at those claws of yours, claws capable of ripping open the belly of a dog that makes the mistake of cornering you in a suburban garage. 

     I’ve seen raccoons chase people, and you can run 15 mph!     You pull chickens out of their coops, ripping them right through the wires.   

     I’ve seen ignorant families with baby raccoons in pet carriers, as I learned the futility of convincing pet store employees not to fuss and coo, as you are illegal pets here. 

     You also carry rabies!

 

  ©2021 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved

Comments

  1. LisaFebruary 23, 2021 at 5:47 PM

    Yeah, it sounds like it probably had rabies. Raccoons are one of the most common carriers, along with skunks, bats, and dogs. Since raccoons, skunks, and bats are all nocturnal, when we see them in daytime they are probably sick. I am surprised Animal Control didn't contact you to make sure no one, or no pets, had been in contact, but maybe you had already told them "no." It's true I worked in a pet store and I wanted employees to ignore the people with raccoons in carriers, not to encourage them and "oooh" and "ahhh." Cute, but illegal (in Oregon) pets, and dangerous wild animals.

    ReplyDelete
  2. John HoltonFebruary 24, 2021 at 9:38 AM

    But they're so cute...

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Untitled Golden Shovel

-
Image
 Writers' Pantry #52  https://poetsandstorytellersunited.blogspot.com/2021/01/writers-pantry-52-years-beginning.html I've been playing with some new, to me, poetry forms.  April is the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, and my plans are A-Z of poetry forms.  I like to get a head start, especially since I also participate on my other blog.   This is a Golden Shovel. It was created by Terrance Hayes, an award-winning poet and professor in New York.  https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/terrance-hayes The "rules" are: take lines, or one line, from an existing poem take each word and use it, in order, as an end word in your new poem give credit My poem uses the words from the last line of Edna St. Vincent Millay's Time Does Not Bring Relief (Sonnet II), "and so stand stricken so remembering him."             I had told him “yes” already, and it’s too late to change that now, so I let my words stand though I am stricken at the thought.   I am so cr
Read more

Untitled - a Waltmarie

-
Image
Weekly Scribblings #58  My second attempt (best not to talk about my first) at writing a Waltmarie, this week's Weekly Scribblings prompt.         Do not lack the courage To live Nor be long hesitant To love Let your wildest dreams free To soar And your imagination loose To fly Toward a future replete with Wonder ©2021 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved
Read more

The Morrigan

-
Image
 Weekly Scribblings #45: https://poetsandstorytellersunited.blogspot.com/2020/11/weekly-scribblings-45-artistic.html A picture prompt this week, prose or poetry inspired by one or more of three paintings.  I chose two,  'Beautiful, YOU are' by Magic Love Crow, and 'Carnival Dreams' by Shelle Kennedy. 'Carnival Dreams' by Shelle Kennedy      Beautiful, you are,      though your thoughts are dark,      and bitter.      A macabre carnival of emotion      battles in you.        The heart you wear      belies the fury      of the one that beats.        Your face tells.      Tells of suffering,      loneliness,      too much despair      in one so young.      One still hoping.      Yet not daring to hope.   Hope!   The red balloon you cling to. Hope! Straining skyward.       'Beautiful, YOU are' by Magic Love Crow Look outside the gates. Outside your grim carnival and watch the crows at sunset fly in
Read more