Squirrel Prints at Pan Abode

What evidence do we have

other than the pitter patter placed prints

of a squirrel

after it slipped through a crack in the door

to climb

upon the sound making machine?

Perhaps it traversed the machine after we disturbed

it’s existence with scratchy praise and shaky legs

only leaving small morsels

of communion bread

though not a drop of juice.

Maybe breadcrumbs were enough

of a peace offering

so it only walked on the machine to leave

a reminder

we are all walking in search of

another crumb to sustain us, leaving

prints across the beating machines of each

others’ lives and we find, like the squirrel, sometimes

the humblest offering is all we needed

to remember why we retreat,

or return.