Many people are
Like porcupines; getting too
Close is just painful.
"For better or worse, zoos are how most people come to know big or exotic animals. Few will ever see wild penguins sledding downhill to sea on their bellies, giant pandas holding bamboo lollipops in China or tree porcupines in the Canadian Rockies, balled up like giant pine cones." -Diane Ackerman
Prickly are these sweet creatures who allow calm people to pet them.
Old world versus New-world are these
Rodents that protect themselves with
Coats of spines composed of keratin.
Under the Old-world classification, the
"Pests of Kenya" are strictly nocturnal and larger than the critters
In South and North America.
New World porcupines love the woods and even climb trees.
Enemies should beware Porky's clatter of his teeth, which proceeds
Sharp quills penetrating the foe's skin as this critter attacks!
I
Who made the roach and porcupine?
Who made the giraffe and sloth?
Who made mosquito, bug, kine?
II
I might see uses in cattle and kine
Because I need to feed, wine and dine
Will they let me eat bear & porcupine?
III
Some creatures remind us, not about us
The universe feels itself, expresses
And experiences being great or minuscule
IV
If you meet maidens U like, "a beauty"
Don't discriminate if others are plain
Creator who made "mistakes" made me
Her lips were of Persimmon pink
Her nails of Porcupine
And when she puckered up to kiss
You’d better which your spine!
Her eyes could penetrate the night
Like lasers from a gun
and when she set her eyes on you
Oh boy, you’d better run!
Let’s not forget about her feet
At “Bunny” speed, no less
She’ll hop right in and nibble when
she finds out your address
Persimmons, porcupines and guns
And with those Rabbit’s feet
She’ll chase and kiss and scratch and burn
What might she like to eat!
What is that animal peeking through the leaves?
Animal laughs as he hears the forest fairy wondering aloud.
Porcupines speak Fair-esh, you know, he thinks.
Ah, a midgespout, she says.
He is indignant now.
He had no ideas that fairies called porcupines midgespouts.
Petting Pet Porcupines
Pet porcupines require love
But always pet them with a glove
a guided quill
filled with emotion… passion
porcupines defence
Now porcupines have their defences down pat
With extra sharp quills, enemies don't tackle this cat
I wouldn't, would you?
Imagine getting pricked, yucky poo!
Especially if you get quills stuck up your ass
A porcupine, when threatened, will
Let loose upon his foe a quill
Or actually, I have a hunch
That he’d release a giant bunch.
I always knew about that use
But never knew that a papoose
Could find what every baby needs
Where quills are used instead of beads.
Yes, cradleboards and moccasins
And shirts or cloaks made out of skins
Were gussied up with filed-down quills
By Indians with awesome skills.
A new exhibit at the Met*
Has beadwork that I won’t forget
By Natives living on the Plains
Where porcupines shared their domains.
Or that is what I must assume
For every ornament and plume
They used to sew with (all by hand)
Was found nearby on native land.
That’s how it was in times gone by;
The local life could satisfy.
Those Indians, now mostly gone,
Today’d rely on Amazon!
*Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC
Don’t ever let anyone tell you that a porcupine will make very good pet,
I had one for a little while and I came away with a lingering regret.
I taught her how to beg for scraps and how to kiss me on my cheek,
But the biggest mistake I ever made was when I taught her how to speak.
Because porcupines can’t say too much without sounding overwrought,
They will blather on about anything without giving it a second thought.
And trust me when I tell you that their barbs can cause you pain,
They’ll puncture an inflated ego and all for very little gain.
So if you have your eye on a porcupine I’ll wish you a lot of luck,
As soon as you think that you’re growing close is the time that you’ll get stuck.
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