From Writing Notebook 2021.
The Gap That Will Be Filled
The hawk
stands atop the electric pole
mere feet from the body of the squirrel
hanging from the wire by its toes
electrocuted
and
tempting
Now what?
6/9/21
14 thoughts on “The Gap That Will Be Filled”
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Claudia McGill Writes Poetry, Did You Know That? 
Oh yikes! Did you see this?
Yes. Our power lines go across the back yard. One day I saw the squirrel hanging just as described, gruesome. I would not have thought it possible that this would occur like this, but, there it was. I watched to see what would happen over a few days and that is when I saw the hawk. He did not go for the squirrel, which some days later I noticed had finally either fallen or been taken. I looked for his body below the pole, but nothing, so someone got a meal in the end…
We once lost power because a squirrel went into the box on the power line.
If the squirrel was dead, maybe he fell and a vulture ate him.
He was dead several days hanging by his toes. I think he finally…gulp…disintegrated and fell. I did not see any vultures around, now that I think about it. So I am thinking fox. Or maybe then vultures at ground level. Eeek.
Oh, poor thing. 😞
In a macabre kind of way it was really interesting. Who knew such a thing could happen? Not me. I checked on the scene several times a day. Fascinating.
Yowza !
Yes. I could not believe my eyes when I noticed the squirrel, and I kept an eye on it over a few days until it disappeared, fell or taken I don’t know. The hawk I mention here did not try for the hanging squirrel.
A perfect metaphor for these turbulent times… Are we hawks or squirrels?
I always hope to be the hawk.
You create such a wonderfully ominous atmosphere with this macabre scene.
And it is a true story. Everyday life is sharp-edged all right!
In South Africa the power lines have been made safe – don’t ask me how – so the birds and other animals don”t get electrocuted. Such a sad sight!
Yes, we have the same thing here, I’ve never seen an animal or bird electrocuted by the wires, but somehow this squirrel found a spot, maybe a connection, right next to the pole where there is a lot of electrical stuff (no idea what – it just looks tangly). I was really taken aback when I realized the squirrel was not just doing a trapeze act and enjoying hanging upside down. Gruesome.