Love of an Otter

It was spring, the season of love, and the forest
Males were ratcheting up wooing skills to impress
The females of their choosing, loving mates to be.
High in the trees birds primped and pumped, tweeted
Melodious airs. Ground borne suitors sashayed and
Strutted their stuff. Clotilde, the cottontail, was much
Admired among the boy cottontails because of
The way she batted her eyelashes with allure.
Samantha, the squirrel, high in the tree tip top
Was also affectionately considered by
The dashing, darting boys of the neighborhood glen.
So it was in the spring time …

Ophelia, the otter, was also well sought
By the male otters of the river, who did much
Love her beauty, particularly her silky
Tail, smooth and sleek. Suitors approached her with presents.
Suitor one brought her a catfish from the river.
Suitor two a mess of succulent fresh mussels.
Number three scads of juicy cold water crayfish.
Number four, whose name was Oscar, brought her flowers,
Plucked from the river bank, colorful, fragrant.
She thanked them all but said she was going for a swim.
Back in the forest, boys continued romancing.
For that is how it is in the spring …


On the banks of the river was a well-worn, wet
And slippery otter slide. The young had wetted
It smooth. The playful clan slid down its slope into
The river, then climbed the bank to do it over.
Thus did one pass an afternoon in happy play.
Ophelia joined the players at their game.
She zoomed down the muddy ramp into the river,
Then chased the curious fish away from the place.
But little known to those playing in the river
A beaver dam upstream had burst sending a flood
Their way. Ophelia was caught full in the flow
And swept downstream. She managed to catch onto

A snagged tree and held on, out of the flood, except
For her tail, which was caught in a focused plume, drenched,
Soaked, sent awry, fuzzied, frizzled and frazzled.
Not at all the smooth and sleek tail so admired
By her suitors. When she returned home they awaited.
But shocked they were by the condition of her
Caudal appendage. The first left with his catfish.
The second slinked away with his fresh mussels.
The third exited too with his tasty crayfish.
Only Oscar, loyal otter, remained with his
Flowers, colorful and fragrant, a gift of love.
Love is not love that changes
When it changes finds.