This Time Last Year

Today’s the day, remember it?

When first I spied a beaver kit

A little swim, a little chew

Doing just what beavers do.

He was so small from nose to tail

His movements hesitant and frail

He barely dove, and when he tried

He floated up without a guide

Two days hence we found a brother

Then saw them joined by yet another

Three kits swam and chewed and cried

A few brief weeks and mother died.

Today’s a year, I can’t believe

The changes that have made us grieve

Mom is gone, the home they built

The dams forlorn – their ponds all spilt.

No man nor city hurt their fate

‘Twas nature flooded down their gate

We did our best, but such are courses

They suffered most from natural forces.

We wish them well and fondly savor

Three plump kits whose goals still waiver

While they are near we watch and hope

Whatever nature brings, they’ll cope.

Heidi Perryman