I envision this as a sweetly illustrated children's book- meant to be read in prose style. It sounds a lot better when you read it aloud. I was inspired to write it watching Daisy lay in the sun on our front porch watching the birds intently. All the creatures in the story are creatures we have here on our little mountain. Anyone interested in doing some illustrations? :)
Daisy the dog watched excitedly when the bird landed.
She sniffed the air, and wagged her tail as the bird commanded:
“All my food, where has it gone? There is very little left!”
Daisy tilted her head and thought “I think there has been a theft!”
She stretched and moved off her sunny porch, sniffing as she went.
The little bird joined in the hunt, and began his swift ascent.
“Over here, there’s a trail!” he chirped rather loudly.
“Follow the seeds!” he then commanded, ever so proudly.
“I’m on the case,” Daisy paused, “I think I have a scent!”
“Perhaps a bunny, yes, that’s it” as her nose was bent.
“Find it’s burrow” the bird cried out flying behind the dog,
When suddenly into their path, jumped a gentlemen frog.
“I think you are on the wrong track,” he croaked with alarm.
“That bunny family dislikes seeds” the frog smiled with charm.
Then out came the bunny family, one by one and then some more.
They huddled together nervously, “Who is at our door?”
Daisy the dog gave a smile, and the bird gave a wink,
The frog gave a perfect bow and the bird chirped “Let’s think.”
“What other creatures would be so daring to steal delicious seeds?”
Daisy raised an eyebrow, and started to sniff the weeds.
“Perhaps the foxes needed some dinner?” the bunny family suggested.
The bird soared above to look, “I see seeds!” he attested.
“It must be the foxes, yes, the seeds head to their den”
So Daisy the dog and her friend bird were headed out again.
“I think I’ve got it,” Daisy cried and ran into the woods.
Bird followed closely behind her, searching for stolen goods.
As they approached the rocky slope a newt came sauntering out,
“You are surely on the wrong track” he puffed from his slippery snout
“Are you certain?” asked the bird as he flew in and out of trees.
The newt replied, “Well I suppose, you should listen to me please,”
“Foxes don’t eat seeds like that, everyone should know,”
“Oh I am sure of it, just as winter promises snow!”
Daisy tilted her head once more and pondered for a second,
Just then a fox popped out as if she had been beckoned.
“Excuse me but I must confess, I have no time for seeds”
“I do believe you should turn to more realistic leads.”
Daisy and bird looked at the newt, and the newt looked at the fox.
The fox smiled sweetly and disappeared back into the rocks.
“We must be sure on this next guess, we are running out of time.”
Daisy nodded in agreement saying “we will solve this crime!”
Suddenly a rustling was heard and Daisy caught a whiff,
A strong smell, but oh so familiar, the dog decided to sniff.
Up like a flash came running a squirrel following the seeded trail,
The bird squawked in a frenzy and Daisy let out a wail!
Off on a hunt to retrieve the seeds, yet the squirrel was small and fast.
“Over here!” bird sang as Daisy ran, “we have the culprit at last!”
Up a tree and into the branches the squirrel tried to hide,
With a mouth full of seeds he said “Not me!” and clearly lied.
Daisy barked, barked, barked but just couldn’t climb up that tree.
Bird chirped, chirped, chirped “you stole those seeds from me!”
“I’m sorry” the squirrel began “I had nothing at all to eat.”
“The seeds were laid out so nicely, I thought they were a special treat.”
The frog appeared once more, panting from hopping so long.
He said “my friends, you are quick, not to mention strong!”
“Squirrel looks hungry, perhaps we shouldn’t be mad”
“Everyone passed the blame along, and that is sort of sad.”
Bird landed softly on the branch and moved towards the thief,
He inched closer and closer, squirrel was hiding behind a leaf.
Bird called “I will share if you are hungry, but you cannot eat them all”
“We questioned so many creatures, you almost caused a brawl!”
Daisy stopped her barking and the fox sat wryly by.
The newt climbed onto a rock and a bunny let out a sigh.
The frog leapt into a clearing to speak, confident and daring.
“What a lovely bird you are, showing kindness and sharing.”
Bird agreed “this forest is for everyone, we're happy and free.”
Daisy the dog added, “this is very clear to see.”
“If bird is willing to share, we should all follow his lead”
“Helping out any creatures who may be in need.”
Squirrel let out a thankful whimper and the fox gave a holler.
The bunny family hugged each other and newt stood a little taller.
Squirrel learned a lesson that day, and vowed to pass it on.
But it was Frog who knew the creatures had it within them all along.
Illustrations? ME!