Showers and Sunshine

2/27/2024

Hello blog friends,

I've another poem to share, a response to writer Colleen Chesebro's prompt. Over these last many months, her theme has been and is the changing seasons. Our area is starting to warm up, and so, my poem focuses on the arrival of spring.

On sunny days, I walk a trail near my home. Small holes and little mountains of dirt cover the path. The burrowing gopher has had a busy winter! I'm not sure how the locals deal with this little critter, but for now, hikers step over or around the hole-ridden path. If one isn't careful, it would be easy to twist an ankle. Gophers are cute little guys, but oh what a mess they create.

I hope you have a wonderful week with plenty of sunshine. It's time to enjoy the warmth nature provides. ❤️

42 Comments

Jacquie Biggar

2/27/2024 18:52:42

We have cherry blossoms here! Gophers are cute little guys, even though they are kind of destructive.
Wonderful poem, Gwen!

Gwen M. Plano

2/28/2024 05:12:17

Thank you, Jacquie. Gophers are the topic of conversation in our area, because they seem to have adopted the area. LOL. It must be a delight to have cheery blossoms nearby. I always associate them with my years in Japan. Beautiful! 😊

Miriam Hurdle link

2/27/2024 21:39:35

Great capture of the gopher, Gwen! I love your spring poem. It's still raining here but at least the sun came out off and on.

Gwen M. Plano

2/28/2024 05:13:54

Thank you, Miriam. At first, I didn't know what caused all the digging and holes, then the locals explained. I'm learning about life in the high desert. 😊

Pat Garcia link

2/28/2024 03:34:45

Hi,
Yes, warm weather is on the way, and I am one happy person to see it coming.
And gophers, well they are messy but I am always amazed at their thoroughness when they dig their holes, so I step around them.
Have a lovely day..
Shalom shalom

Gwen M. Plano

2/28/2024 05:16:30

Thank you, Pat. It would be fun to see below the surface to their network of tunnels. Like you, I step around them. Happy Spring to you! Shalom

Tim Dittmer link

2/28/2024 06:36:29

Gophers are cute, Gwen, and you sure captured that in your photo. It almost looks like it was posing for you. 😊 I sometimes wonder why they decide to move into a place where their home is a problem.

Gwen M. Plano

2/28/2024 08:02:21

That's a good question, Tim. I wonder too. When I was a kid, the gophers caused lots of damage when dad was irrigating, and my sibs and I had to run around filling the holes. In those younger days, mud was fun. 😊

Priscilla Bettis link

2/28/2024 07:18:19

Gophers are cute as heck, but yeah, you gotta watch out for their holes. Fun poem, Gwen!

Gwen M. Plano

2/28/2024 08:04:15

Thank you, Priscilla. Yep, they're cute little critters, but they certainly know how to create a mess. 😊

Dale Rogerson link

2/28/2024 07:21:32

They are cute but oh... I have a groundhog (same diff, right?) who thinks my backyard is his! What a pain...
Lovely poem!

Gwen M. Plano

2/28/2024 08:06:58

Thanks, Dale. I don't have them in my yard, but that's probably because it's mostly rocks - not the best for little diggers. 😊

Liz Gauffreau link

2/28/2024 08:28:26

I'll be sure to watch my step around gopher holes!

Gwen M. Plano

2/28/2024 14:27:41

😊 I wonder if they are trainable. LOL

john howell link

2/28/2024 08:48:20

Great shot of the gopher. We used to have those little rascals at the beach. Had to hire a trapper to take them away. Super poem, Gwen.

Gwen M. Plano

2/28/2024 14:28:54

They are cuties but folks sure get frustrated with them. I didn't know they'd be at the beach, John. I guess they are everywhere. 😊

Mae Clair link

2/28/2024 09:57:49

Great springtime poem, Gwen, and what an interesting path you get to walk in the mornings! We haven't started to see gophers yet in my area (still too cold) but it won't be long. I agree they are both cute and destructive, LOL!

Gwen M. Plano

2/28/2024 14:31:07

And they are busy little guys, Mae. Our area is covered with underground tunnels and above ground holes. 😊

D.L. Finn

2/28/2024 10:11:06

Love this, Gwen :) I have to watch my step here too!

Gwen M. Plano

2/28/2024 14:33:55

Thank you, Denise. I feel like I am zigzagging the path, because I fear collapsing their little homes underneath the surface. 😊

Dan Antion link

2/28/2024 10:33:07

I love seeing nature wake up to the coming season - wonderful words, Gwen.

Gwen M. Plano

2/28/2024 14:34:50

Thanks so much, Dan. Like you, I love watching nature wake up. 😊

Jan Sikes

2/28/2024 11:39:17

Oh, for sure, gotta watch out for those holes. They are cute little critters, but can certainly wreak havoc. Lovely poem, Gwen!

Gwen M. Plano

2/28/2024 14:35:46

Thank you, Jan. Yep, they are busy little critters. 😊

Annette Rochelle Aben

2/28/2024 12:24:04

caution around gopher holes... I can totally relate!

Gwen M. Plano

2/28/2024 14:37:12

It's easy for me to zone when I walk, Annette, but I make myself stay alert for the holes. 😊

Jacqui link

3/1/2024 08:37:12

Love the poem--especially that last line. In the Westerns I love reading, horses too often break a leg in a gopher hole. Hope all goes well with you.

Gwen M. Plano

3/1/2024 12:25:22

Gosh, I didn't know about the horses, but I can totally imagine it to be true. Thank you, Jacqui. 😊

Li link

3/1/2024 15:41:16

Such cute little critters that belies their menace. Not sure how to get around that without harming them unless you lay boards along those stretches?

Gwen M. Plano

3/3/2024 19:22:39

Sometimes I see boards over the path, but I think it's because of flooding. 😊 Thank you, Li.

Li link

3/1/2024 15:43:03

p.s. sorry for the bad grammar. I hope you got the gist of what I was trying to say.

Gwen M. Plano

3/3/2024 19:22:59

Of course! 🤗

Kerfe

3/1/2024 19:50:30

A reminder to always look where you're going! It must drive the dogs crazy too.

Gwen M. Plano

3/3/2024 19:24:03

It definitely does, Kerfe. You'll see the dogs trying to dig into the holes.😊 You're right on!

Yvette M Calleiro link

3/2/2024 15:14:04

It's a good thing it doesn't snow in those areas. Otherwise, there would be twisted ankles, for sure. Great poem, Gwen!

Yvette M Calleiro :-)

http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com

Gwen M. Plano

3/3/2024 19:25:25

Thank you, Yvi. Some folks walk with sticks -- specifically because of the holes. 😊

Colleen Chesebro link

3/3/2024 10:55:19

Gwen, I love how creative your tanka poem is. You picked up on some subtleties of spring with the holes from the gophers. LOL! I had to chuckle. 🤭

Gwen M. Plano

3/3/2024 19:26:50

I'm so glad you chuckled, Colleen! I laughed as I wrote about these little guys. 😆

ben Alexander link

3/6/2024 13:45:48

Your poem is lovely, Gwen, and that little critter is just ADORABLE!

Much love,
David

willowdot21 link

3/9/2024 12:52:25

I love this 💜💜💜💜

Jules link

3/10/2024 11:02:21

The critters are coming back. I have had a few Crackle (like blackbirds) that I hadn't seen all winter. And when it was warm - there might have been a frog by the edge of the creek - all I heard was the plop of it going back into the water. And the ducks and geese are looking for nesting areas.

Be careful of your Ghopher holes!

Melissa Lemay link

3/12/2024 22:51:39

Love your tanka, and the picture of the gopher.☺️

Showers and Sunshine

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