THE CHILL, THE ROBIN & THE BADGER'S HEAD... (My new poem about the Temple Balsall badgers...)

 The Chill, The Robin & The Badger’s Head…

The autumn chill had finally eked its way into the copse, as foliage

Of leaves lifted, drifted and settled around several depressions shallow,

Dug by the clan badgers recently.

Within minutes, following the unmistakeable 

Sound of jaws crushing nuts and meal, a head of black and white

Emerged from within a sett hole, as dusk hovered around the fading light.

The badger soon ducked its head again at a distraction indiscernible  

And I froze, breathing quite silently,

As a fidgety robin filched peanuts in the copse’s hollow,

Dithering, flitting and in the gathering gloom, taking advantage…

Pete Ray

17th October 2023…  

Actually spotted three badgers, although one only briefly, behind bushes.

The other two ate keenly for the short while I stood in the dank chill of the copse and when both were spooked by some slight sound or other, a robin hopped about to snaffle the gleanings…