Squirrels, love poems, and Jesus

introducing my new poetry collection, "Love and other Mysteries"

Hello, Poetry Friend

My first book, Sammy and Mary, came out when I was 8 years old. I wrote it, illustrated it, and enclosed it within the covers of a Craig’s dress box. I included a book blurb and an author’s note (although I put them in the wrong places), and they are exactly as pretentious as you might imagine them to be:

A charming story. Youngsters 4 to 8 are sure to enjoy.

Sammy and Mary is a love story. Two squirrels meet, go for a walk, gather nuts, and decide to get hitched in the old oak tree. Bunnies serve as bridesmaids. Sammy has a cane; Mary has a purse. The squirrel minster says “man and wife,” and that’s all, folks — not even a The End. Decades later, I am still stuck on love stories.

open your heart to Love and other Mysteries

Love and other Mysteries is a collection of poems, eight of which are inspired by Song of Solomon. There are no nuts and no bunnies, but birds a’plenty. There’s a pickup truck and wine and soup. There are many, many walks/hikes.

And, to riff on the old joke, with all this talk about squirrels, there must also be Jesus.

It sounds like a squirrel

but it is Jesus
who shows me the poem, nudges me in the ribs, like, See? I know you, girl!
And I’m all, Seriously? Some friend you are! 

The squirrel scavenging acorns in my lawn does not know theology, or jokes,
only the love of the hard shell.

I know what you’re hiding, Jesus says,
your inconsolable secret is safe.
And I am left dewless
while the indecent squirrel scurries away,
plants a whole ‘nother tree, spring’s best spell.

–Megan Willome

* "inconsolable secret" from The Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis

Love and other Mysteries is published by Wipf and Stock, and is available on Amazon now and at other retail outlets soon.

Happy poeming!

Megan