The Bad Guy
He’s a robin’s nightmare, the tanagers leave the scene when he descends,
because he’s eating everything in sight, raiding the bird feeder, digging up bulbs.
Without scruples, he’ll raid a nest and steal bird’s eggs when momma bird leaves.
He is hungry all the time; he eats a pound of food a week.
Skipping and bopping along the high branch highway,
He’s the acrobatic terror of the garden, the psychopath for nesting birds
He’s the bad guy, the Destructor, with such cute wide-open eyes,
I’m a push-over for his machine gun -munching, his amazing leaping skills.
He’s a pest; his kind’s not wanted, yet I’m a sucker for that bushy tail
He steals whole bananas while the birds wait for him so patiently
and carries them off like small canoes under his arm, his take out!
But I’m OK with it, live and let live; He who made the birds, made him, made me!
They say he robs those bird nests, as a last resort, as he loves his fruit and seeds
So I plant and buy a double share to fill him up, so he’ll let those babies be.
Not just a rat who lives in trees, but my friend and he knows me, when he sees me.
Karima Hoisan
January 3, 2021
Costa Rica
Digital Rabbit Hole 
Pingback: The Bad Guy — Digital Rabbit Hole - https://jakhala.com
Hehe, that reddish rodent. Sometimes they are a pest and sometimes they are like clowns. I really understand your ambivalent relationship 🙂
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A kind thought even for the bad guy rodents! We need more kindness like this. 🙂 And so beautifully written, as always…
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Awww well I am sort of an underdog lover from birth, but I just can’t help myself with squirrels..they are too darn cute and intelligent!! They know I won’t hurt them..actually, that I work for them:) Thanks Dale for your great comment!
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Thanks Nat…hehe yes, I am ambivalent, but in the end I make sure there is food for all:):) even them..:) Hugs for understanding:)
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Playful and delightful! It really made me smile, love the furry tail and cheeky face as he traverses the branch highways! I adore them.
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Awwww Sissy:) happy New Year!! Thank you Sis and please let’s see each other more in 2021 inshallah..My sweet Sis from far away:):)❤️🤗❤️
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That was super fun and creative, Karima. We have lots of those “tree rats” where I live, and I’ve always had a soft spot for them. Have a great week. 🙏😊
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Aww glad to hear you could relate Jeff! Smiles..big when we are softies…we are just softies hehe. Glad you found it fun..It was meant to be:):) 🙏🌺🌴
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Yes, agreed. 😂 I did, indeed. Have a great week! 🤗🙏❤️
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Squirrels used to take the seeds out of my Dad’s birdfeeder. He always tried to chase them away. Sometimes he would photograph them.
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I understand..they are impish and destructive, but they have their good side for photos:) Thanks for sharing that David:):)
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Haha.. This was such a cute post, Karima.. Something different but still a sweet read. I hope you have a lovely day and stay blessed always my dear friend ❤️❤️🙏🤗😊💐💐
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hehe so glad you enjoyed it Diana…🌺 Yes, sometimes it’s nice to mix it up, styles and also feelings..I am pretty serious sometimes. so nice to show I do have a bit of the lighter side in me:) and the squirrels made me do it:):) Thank you always!! 🙏🤗❤️🌹🌈
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This is funny and clever. It’s like the bad boy in shows we all love to hate and hate to love.
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Aww thank you Benjamin..sorry I am doing catch up and I have not responded before this..I am glad you found it funny, and your comment is so true.. we love to hate the bad boys but many of us secretly, think ..In the end, they are not so bad after all:):) They are just trying to survive, like everything and everyone else:):)
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You’re right. Even the bad boy isn’t usually as bad as it first seems. Everyone has some redeeming qualities to them. And you’re welcome. No worries on the late reply. Life moves fast.
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Hahaha a adorable post… I loved the tittle. Quite decieveing… Amazing take
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You made me smile with your laughter, Raghavasree:) I am so glad you found my little “squirrelly” friends kind of cute in the end:):) Thank you so much for your great comment.!
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He is simply going per nature’s laws. And I’m glad he is not judged for that. It’s not malice, and bitterness that makes him do that. It’s hunger. He is as innocent as he can be. I’m with you… 🙏:-)🙏
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Yes, Sundaram, he’s the “bad guy” we can’t help defending and loving a little too:) If they just take too many bananas, I must step in with a few shots of my water gun giggles,..but usually they have their routine and only steal one or two per day *that is per squirrel!! Alhamdulillah we grow them:) ❤️🙏🌴🍌🐿 Thank you for enjoying the fun of it:)
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Aww this is soo sweet, funny at the same time and shows all your love and kindness habeebity.. ❤️❤️❤️ Everyone of us are trying to grab our share in this world, sometimes stepping on others domain as well, that’s how these little beings do for their survival. 😊 Beautifully penned down🥰🤗🤗🤗🤗
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Smiling…thank you UmAnzar, I guess I do give awsay a bit of myself in this one, and you are so right..He’s just trying to grab his share like everyone haha but he does it with both hands:):) 🍌🍌🍌🍌=🐿
Thank you dear friend, for reading and enjoying and sharing your thoughts with me..I adore your comments..and your wisdom too in what you see and say. Allah ma3k habeebity 🙏❤️🤗
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Haha, yes he is 😄 It’s always my pleasure to read your wonderful poems ❤️ Thank you so much for your kind words habeebity, Allah hafiz🤗🤗🤗❤️❤️❤️❤️
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Something tells me you are friends with this “machine munching “ critter. He, now too, is a member of your family. By the way..a perfect description of a squirrel!
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Haha.. you busted me! I do love those little naughty machine-gun munchers:) Thanks for this fun comment too:)
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Very cute.
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Smiles.. I’m a pushover….thank you Dawn::)
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