All the while

All the while

The soil lay there

The flowers grew

The crocuses

The snowdrops too

The sky was clear

Star bright

There were footprints

In the flower beds

A badger sauntered

Nonchalantly by

Unconcerned that

He was plain to see.

Caring little

About Foxes

That were otherwise engaged

Making a nuisance

Of themselves

In the Pigeon loft

At sixty-six.

Badger had no time for climbing,

It was the devil's work.

He stopped

To smell the roses

Nibbled at a fungus

Pulled at the earth

Tugged out a worm

And in his own time

In full command

Of his appearance

Walked on

Bristling his whiskers

And whistling

A mellow tune

He had heard

Several times

Emanating from

A mechanical thingamabob

On the lawn

At number four

Where a most unbadgerly

Upright couple

Would often

Sway closely together

In time to the music

And for some reason

He was unable

To fathom

He got goosebumps

From just watching them.