Talking With Nature
By Jean MacIntyre
Dedicated to our future generations.
Let’s leave them a better world.
Published by Jean MacIntyre at Smashwords.
Copyright 2010 by Jean MacIntyre.
Cover, limericks and photo art by Jean MacIntyre.
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TALKING WITH NATURE
Way out in the forest, in a big cedar tree
Lives a funny old fellow you rarely can see.
But once in a while
He comes out with a smile
And says, “Why don’t you come over and sit with me?”
“Lend me your ear, I’ve a story to tell.
It’s one we should learn and learn it real well.
We each are of worth
On this home we call Earth,
And we must respect those with whom we all dwell.”
I’m a baby alpaca with wool snowy white.
I look out at the world without any fright.
My mommy is near
So I have no fear,
And when I get older, I’ll be quite a sight!”
My name is Archie and I’m building a house.
I run back and forth quickly as a mouse.
When a friend I meet
We touch noses to greet,
Then I carry on running back home to my spouse.
Hiding in daylilies, I snack and I dine
On leaves that are tender, and taste mighty fine.
But I’d better watch out
If I hear a shout,
‘Cause I’m not welcome here and I’m crossing the line!
I live in the water and I am really quite small.
With a hard body shell I fear little at all.
My front legs are claws,
To hold food for my jaws.
For groceries, I don’t need to go to the mall.
I’m a bright yellow bug who looks something like corn.
I’m wandering about in the early morn,
Looking for food
That tastes really good.
It’s the kind I’ve been eating since I was born.
Roaming the meadow, I eat the hay,
Then chew on my cud for the rest of the day.
The food that I eat
Turns into a treat.
Fresh milk for the table is soon on its way.
I’m always busy darting hither and yon.
My job is quite simple; eat bugs all day long.
Then I rest in the sun,
My idea of fun.
Now it’s back to work as my wings hum a song.
You’d think I’m a dragonfly but you’d be wrong.
I’m a damselfly and my body is long.
My wings stay down
When I’m sitting around.
When I fly about I’m really quite strong.
I sit in the pond on a rock in the heat.
When I hatched out, I had no feet.
But my legs soon grew
Quite strong and true.
Now I can jump to catch flies. They make quite a treat.
I’m fat and I’m white and I live underground.
You’ll have to dig deep if I’m to be found.
Then I’ll wiggle,
And I’ll jiggle,
I’ll dig and crawl down until once again I’m safe and sound.
I’m eating grass; for my master I wait.
Sometimes I look up and over the gate.
‘Cause I love to run
In the wind and the sun.
I’d like to get going, so I hope he’s not late!
I’m sure you know, at a glance, who I am.
You’ll find me in houses, in barns and on land.
You don’t like me,
That’s plain to see,
‘Cause you hit me with stuff that makes a big wham!
From flower to flower to flower I roam.
I make honey from nectar to fill up our comb.
As I travel the field
I increase the yield
Of the fruits and veggies you need in your home.
I’m here in your garden at your request.
I search all day for a really bad pest.
Your plants he eats,
They’re his favorite treats.
So I try to get rid of your unwelcome guests.
Curled in a ball, in the leaves I lie.
My work is all done and I wiggle and sigh.
My hundreds of feet
Are tiny and neat.
Shoes are something I need never buy.
As the sun goes down, I’ll stretch and yawn.
Then I’ll uncurl my body and dig into the lawn.
I’ll crawl down below
Where it’s cool, and I know
I’ll be quite safe as I sleep until dawn.
I sleep all day and I hunt all night,
Looking for food with all of my might.
Sometimes I flit
And I just won’t quit
Whenever I come anywhere near a light.
I’m just a wee bird and I fell from my nest.
My attempts to fly were far from the best.
Some folks saw me there,
Picked me up with great care
And put me back in the nest with the rest.
I’m a tiny wee lad and I love to patrol.
Catching dust mites to eat is my ultimate goal.
Sometimes I spy
On folks passing by.
If they see me, I just crawl into a hole.
I spend my day grazing in a field that’s quite green.
The grass is tasty and the rain keeps it clean.
My coat is growing
And the wool is showing
That it soon will be ready for the knitting machine.
I’m Susie the swan and I quietly wait.
My eggs are beneath me, nearby is my mate.
Soon babies will hatch,
And food we must catch.
We’ll be a real family and we’ll all celebrate.
Some folks say we’re really ugly and mean,
‘Cause we munch on leaves that are tender and green.
But we think we’re cute
And we don’t give a hoot
What people say, as we wiggle around and make quite a scene.
I look like a turtle but I’m smaller than a pea.
I come in bright colors but I’m very hard to see.
I hide under leaves
But not in the trees.
I’m a strange little bug, you’d have to agree!
I think I’m quite beautiful with my coat of green.
I’m really quite harmless and I’m not very lean.
I walk quite slow –
Small legs, you know,
So don’t step on me. That would just be mean!
I’m skinny and long, colored brown or green.
I can hide in the woods and I’m rarely seen.
‘Cause I look like a twig
And I’m not very big.
I eat lots of leaves and sometimes even a bean.
I’m Willy the earthworm, and I’m fat and I’m long.
I look very squishy but I’m really quite strong.
I travel underground
Without making a sound,
And work up the soil where your plants are found.
My name is Charlie and I live underground.
All summer long I scurry around
Storing up seeds
Which hide in the weeds.
Sometimes nice folks give me peanuts by the pound.
My story is finished and now I must go
Back into my tree where I live, and you know
You’ve listened quite well
To the stories I tell.
I’ll wait and I’ll watch to see how you grow.
* * *
Hi! My name is Jean. I live in the beautiful Lanark Highlands of Eastern Ontario with my husband, Donald, and a very independent cat named Little Bud. During my lifetime, I have had two major careers – psychiatric nursing and farm insurance underwriting. I have also dabbled in the making of jewelry, and in writing. Now my favorite thing is photography. I like to play with the pictures in the computer, make something different with the photos, and then use them to tell a story. I hope you have enjoyed my efforts!