Hedgehog

Quarter light. The crackle

of drought dried leaves

and then silence.

Shadows fall on shadows,

degrees of darkness layering into night.

I pause in walking -

something

stopped my steps.

Balled into bristle on the path,

sensed, not seen.

Noli me tangere.

I back off, back down, back to the door and

the rustling resumes.

Always

I will celebrate

this creature uncaptured.

This is inspired by the thoughts I expressed in the post about bird ringing, the concern about the human need to touch, feel, photograph and capture.