Lowly skunk

Hi everyone,

Here’s the skunk that seems to like our back yard between the patio and the lake. We’ve seen it twice now.

I think it’s a hooded skunk but it’s probably a hog-nose skunk. The former isn’t normally found in this region, the latter is. Either way, it’s a glorious animal. It also made me think back several decades to when I nearly hit a skunk one evening while turning into out driveway on Cherry Street. I was headed to Fort Leonard Wood the next day to visit some schools on the post. On the way up there, I made up a poem for the kids about my close call the evening before.

Confidence

Lowly skunk,
all stink and phew,
secretly, I envy you.
I've been taught,
when things look bleak,
to smile and turn the other cheek,
while you,
fulfilling heart's desire,
raise your tail,
take aim,
and fire. 

(c) 1984 David L. Harrison, all rights reserved