Scouting

lounging on the floor

a periphery intrusion

spied

head's up

four on the floor

nap over

guttural growl

whining

back bone bristles

a standing ovation of fur

tail erect

rivetted

a flurried flash

a dart

a dash

a hurried scurry

bear paw

to back door pane

nails scraping for leave

out the door

game on!

porch

to patio

snout to ground

glued

hot pursuit

here

there

no, there

where?

up the knoll

under the deck

behind the wood pile

to the gutter maze

up the shaft

down the chute

faster

around the bend

between the rocks

below the hydrangea

loop-de-loop

and around again

chipmunk scouted,

chipmunk chased

a never-ending race