Eyes in front, I hunt. Eyes on side, I hide.
–New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation

A squirrel pretends not to notice me,
minds his business, gnaws a nut.
He’d make an excellent spy, observing
sideways while facing front, as if to say,
No prey here. — Hypocrite écureuil, —
mon semblable,— mon frère!

Every animal has predators, but not all
have peripheral peepers to detect
danger crouched in the hedgerows.
As a human with eyes in front of my head,
I wear shades for plausible deniability.
Without them my neuroses are red meat;
with them, I prowl town with night vision,
the fearsome carnivore.

Squirrels know runts may be rescued
by the ASPCA, but I don’t ask for respite.
Grant me stomach for the hunt and wit
to play prey, an ocelot with rut-bitten ears.