Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Ravished Coconuts


Image: A young coconut bored through by a tupai, a squirrel
Source: Courtesy of Pakcik who extended the above image with permission. The fruit
was from a tree in the compound of his house. The ravished fruit would eventually drop off in time

Note: Coconuts would be vulnerable to squirrels. They would jump on the coconut
fronds from tree to tree and were known to attack whole bunches of the fruit. They
would normally conduct repeat raids so long as there were still fruits on the trees.

Some farmers with guns would pick off these squirrels with shots. But it was
just in vain as they survived somehow to cause more damage.

It happened again
Surreptitiously savored
The young fruits plundered

Coconuts attract
marauding tupai that bore
through the husks and shells

Criminals can be
dusted for their fingerprints
What about squirrels?

They gnashed and gnawed through
Sharp teeth a mockery of
nature’s protection

No such DNA  
to pin-point the culprits. All
were guilty as charged


Written for Leo’s Haiku Heights #261with prompt  –  fingerprints

13 comments:

  1. Well done. I am proud to see how you have turned into a beauty what is plain and simple.

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    1. Thanks Pakcik,
      It somehow jives with your suggestion, the image you have at hand and the prompt that provided the impetus!

      Hank

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  2. ha. squirrels will def get into things...and tear things up...esp looking for food..i am sure they are all guilty of wanting to survive...

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    1. Thanks Brian! Food is the opener and yes, survival is the prompter.

      Hank

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  3. Didn't know this about squirrels. I love coconuts. In Puerto Rico (where I was born) there are many coconut palm trees. I don't think we have squirrels though. At least I never heard of squirrels attacking the trees. Cute poem with good information. Thanks Hank.

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    Replies
    1. You're lucky over there! Here it's the bane of farmers. Once the squirrel gets to know of food, there'll make marauding raids. Nothing much can be done as they sit quietly up hidden by the leaves. Thanks Myrna!

      Hank

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  4. Interesting!! we have a few coconut trees in the area around my house and it is the monkeys that attack the fruit!! Criminals can be dusted ..lol and really we have to just keep watch to see if it is the monkey or the squirrel!! :) Good one Hank!!

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    Replies
    1. A gaping opening hole is squirrel work. A monkey will twist the fruit around to let it fall. They would then get down and smash them. It would be easy as the young coconut would normally have cracked when dropped from high! Thanks Nanka!

      Hank

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  5. This is fantastic Hank, very charming, definitely made me smile

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  6. Wonderfully done,Hank. Justice meted out in a humble way !! Smiles...Just love this :))

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  7. Those squirrels sound guilty as charged. What a fun haiku you penned.

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