Acorn

When the dogs were collected from the kennels last week, the tip of Frostie's tail was bloody and obviously she had been licking and chewing at the irritation ... we do not know what caused it, and did not want to take the matter up with the kennel owner, as they four dogs had been very well looked after for the two weeks that they stayed there.

From the time of their homecoming up till Friday last week, Frostie had been treated by the local vet with an antibiotic ointment as well as meds to try and get the tip te heal. However, last Friday it was decided that the tip be removed this morning as after the treatment, it remained bloody and infected.

So, off we went to the vet for the amputation, but were called to collect Frostie as the vet had decided that the tip in fact showed some improvement and that perhaps another few days should be given to see what happens.

On our happy return, this acorn was spotted on the pavement in front of our house, and I thought that it looked rather unusual - a twin perhaps?

M & Z,your expert opinion is called for! Please enlighten me.


Thought this poem describes the acorn rather well:


"Acorns"

By Linda Pastan


a rat-tat-tat
like gunfire
on the tin roof
acorns
are falling
all from a single
tree, a barrage
of acorns
covers the grass
with shells, acorns
as hard as the
casings of bullets
their noisy artillery
keeping us up
at night
so many acorns
all from one tree
relentless
as rookies:
their thwack
after thwack at
batting practice
where are the squirrels?
the gardeners
with rakes?
the farmgirls
their aprons brimming
with acorns to grind
into meal?
the dog cowers
beside the house
the cat hides
under the car
afraid of
the clattering hooves
of acorns
later big oaks
will grow, a forest
of oak trees their roots
will strangle
this house
listen, listen
all from a single
tree