Weasel Haiku

" Weasel Haiku "

by Suzán Jiván

I

Along with the mink
other related creatures
fisher, otter, shunk

II

Consummate hunter
pause to listen and to sniff
lap blood from fresh kill

III

Must eat frequently
high trilling note when mating
screeching and squealing

IV

Turns white in winter
normally snowy background
harder to be seen

V

Hunts beneath the snow
called ermines for the fur trade
tunneling runways

VI

Downsides to slim shapes
northern sections of its range
feathers of its prey

VII

Mark out home ranges
delaying implantation
assuring young pups

VIII

Changing back to brown
shallow burrows below ground
lowlands and mountains

IX

Smallest carnivore
long and coarsely glossy hair
sleek weasel fashion

X

Long body and neck
under fur repels water
sparkling luster pelt

XI

Excellent senses
kill with a bite to the neck
curled up in their dens

XII

Sleeping during storms
opportunistic feeding
kill more than they eat

XIII

Have few enemies
maturing sexually
long expectancy

XIV

Scratch at the entrance
of a fresh underground nest
along pond edges

XV

Arched back bounding lope
on the move in broad daylight
white on chin and throat

XVI

Wooded bottomlands
measures of intelligence
waters' wilderness

XVII

Feet used for steering
looped and twisted gracefully
webbing between toes

XVIII

Utter low chuckles
valve like structures seal its ears
shrill chirps, hissing barks

XIX

Minnows, sunfish, chubs
enlarged burrows of woodchucks
eyes protrude slightly

XX

Scats on stream-side logs
fresh droppings, checking for scents
hollow stumps, logjams

XXI

Polygamous males
several females in estrus
fights among themselves

XXII

Closely related
caterwauling while mating
keen concentration...