Hedgehog hoovers up what falls from the bird feeders
fussy Birds discard so much.

I tell the Hedgehog to hurry up and fatten up
and to find a nice warm winter shelter to hibernate.

We ride the cusp of ever consuming black
-days will quickly turn to night

hopefully the Birds and Hedgehog will make it,
make it all the way to a new Spring

and I and you be here to welcome them.