Note: Before the pandemic, most of my time outside of school was dedicated to extracurricular activities, primarily competitive figure skating. However, when the pandemic led to the temporary closure of all nearby skating rinks, I was left with an excessive amount of free time. Since I had to stay home almost all day, I spent a lot more time playing with my pets, especially my dog Butter, whose playful nature and constant war with invading squirrels and birds helped me avoid boredom before and even after the rinks reopened. He is the inspiration for this poem.
Butter and the Squirrel Guild
The sun shone bright with glorious light
Over the verdure from her height,
And downward turned her burning gaze
To fill the garden with light rays
Until her day had conquered night.
Under her sky she heard a cry
Much like a whine, to clarify,
Down in the garden by the grass
Was one small beast of noble class
Bound to the rope we had to tie.
This dog was tamed and much acclaimed,
So therefore he is rightly named
As Chevalier Butter of Gold Fur,
Or just Butter as we prefer
Though no contempt with this is aimed.
Alone he sat upon a mat
Tied to this rope he could gnaw at,
But Butter was distracted then
By nine squirrels from yonder den;
Rivals Butter yearned to combat.
A squirrel’s flail of its long tail
Led others to hurl seeds like hail,
Yet Butter bravely held his place,
And swung his front paws like a mace,
Sweeping all aside like a gale.
Butter’s bark-roar, his call of war,
Frightened each squirrel to its core,
So, recognizing defeat, they
Reluctantly scattered the fray;
Butter triumphed through his valour!
Quaranteen 