Tuesday, 19 April 2022

BADGERS IN TEMPLE BALSALL: 'THEY GATHERED IN THE GAUDY LIGHT...'

 They Gathered In The Gaudy Light…




Trees, blackened to silhouettes by a setting sun

Oozed inky bile across a sky of blue and peach

Above the deserted lane, whilst a barely perceivable evening breeze

Ruffled leaves occasionally, as if in fear of a far off hunting gun.

One badger nudged into view from a nearby hole, scrabbling to reach

Morsels of food laid down moments before and with ease

It fed in daylight, until a bird’s flutter alarmed it to run…


Ground foliage, growing quickly in spring’s warm rush

Formed green canvases upon the undulating earth

Adjacent to the quiet lane, beneath aircraft on their flight path 

Which droned through the early evening hush.

Other badgers soon appeared, each with robust girth,

Bustling, watchful, avoiding their cete members’ wrath,

Yet willing to offer a nudge, or perhaps a gentle push…


Pete Ray

19th April 2022  


It was remarkable that no sooner had I scattered food about, badgers began to appear from five separate sett entrances and seemed quite happy to crunch and munch both in front of me and then behind me…





Several times individuals stopped, assessed their surroundings but then fed on.






A passing vehicle finally caused a mass exodus of the brocks into a variety of holes and I was able to slip quietly away, as dusk veiled the copse…








   

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