An acorn fell from a mighty tree
And lay upon the ground;
A tasty morsel for a squirrel to see,
To hide so as not to be found.
The squirrel went off to search for more
And a jackdaw entered the plot;
He stuck his head in the squirrel’s store,
Stealing the acorn so easy to spot.
The piebald raider soared off with his prize,
A successful thief in full flight;
But with a slip of the beak and anguished cries,
The acorn dell down out of sight.
As the bird circled round, a wandering fawn,
Stepped on the nut where it lay;
A dainty push of a hoof and it was gone,
The magpie barred from the play.
The acorn now in the dark and damp,
Hidden from fur and feather;
Lying unseen by the sun’s piercing lamp
And creatures that graze or gather.
Coming of spring then warmed up the soil
And the acorn felt it and woke;
Curled seedling within being told to unfold,
Then upwards it started to poke.
The life of an Oak had now begun,
Anchored well in the ground;
A sturdy perch for birds to have fun,
With squirrels running around.
Monty Alexander 17.2.99