Once upon a porcupine
my path forbear to lead
Twas innocent before such grace
the petting kind I’d need
A friendship close relation’s bind
presumed and yet unvet
for thus clandestine energy
was not revealed as yet
And reaching forth caressing love
to comfort still my soul
when all at once his quills shot forth
and filled my face in whole
Now pain within without my head
hast left me still undone
for not expecting such a blow
now caused my heart to run
But back to state of normalcy
the porcupine resumed
inviting me to touch again
ignore my painful gloom
But there sat I with quills in face
reminders of my risk
not I again to play the fool
repeat the painful frisk
And n’er again come close to thee
and conversate my heart
avoiding all thy hidden flits
the gnawer’s spiny darts
And thus shall I remain as sane
without thy quills in tow
for once been shot I now avoid
thy ruthless secret blows
Ray Hanselman 