Small Wonder

 Is a squirrel strong enough to wreak such damage as this to a pencil? 

A mechanical pencil, I mean. 

All plastic and metal, except for the graphite and eraser. 

Forgotten outside overnight on the swing.

Maybe he could chew the ends off,

and splinter them so.

But to force the metal clip from its groove 

and slide it to the other end?

To shove the broken eraser end into the ground

hard enough to pack it with red clay and dried grass?

So many unanswerable questions large and small in the universe...

Today I'm grateful to wonder

who did this to my pencil.

A welcome distraction from

What will climate change mean for my grandchildren?

What is happening to democracy in this country?

                                                            ~dkm 11/10/21

New one for comparison

After one overnight outside on swing

Packed with clay and grass