{"id":21970,"date":"2026-04-19T13:53:19","date_gmt":"2026-04-19T18:53:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/?p=21970"},"modified":"2026-04-27T08:11:52","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T13:11:52","slug":"porcupine-thirty-one-years-later-pocket-gopher-thou-hath-eaten-all-my-daisies-and-so-i-write-this-poem-to-you-the-mallard-and-me","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/porcupine-thirty-one-years-later-pocket-gopher-thou-hath-eaten-all-my-daisies-and-so-i-write-this-poem-to-you-the-mallard-and-me\/","title":{"rendered":"Porcupine, Thirty-One Years Later, Pocket Gopher, Thou Hath Eaten All My Daisies And So I Write This Poem To You, &amp; The Mallard and Me"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<ul class=\"wp-block-social-links is-content-justification-right is-layout-flex wp-container-core-social-links-is-layout-765c4724 wp-block-social-links-is-layout-flex\"><li class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-facebook  wp-block-social-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=61556140010887\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M12 2C6.5 2 2 6.5 2 12c0 5 3.7 9.1 8.4 9.9v-7H7.9V12h2.5V9.8c0-2.5 1.5-3.9 3.8-3.9 1.1 0 2.2.2 2.2.2v2.5h-1.3c-1.2 0-1.6.8-1.6 1.6V12h2.8l-.4 2.9h-2.3v7C18.3 21.1 22 17 22 12c0-5.5-4.5-10-10-10z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-instagram  wp-block-social-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/boudin_mcneese\/\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M12,4.622c2.403,0,2.688,0.009,3.637,0.052c0.877,0.04,1.354,0.187,1.671,0.31c0.42,0.163,0.72,0.358,1.035,0.673 c0.315,0.315,0.51,0.615,0.673,1.035c0.123,0.317,0.27,0.794,0.31,1.671c0.043,0.949,0.052,1.234,0.052,3.637 s-0.009,2.688-0.052,3.637c-0.04,0.877-0.187,1.354-0.31,1.671c-0.163,0.42-0.358,0.72-0.673,1.035 c-0.315,0.315-0.615,0.51-1.035,0.673c-0.317,0.123-0.794,0.27-1.671,0.31c-0.949,0.043-1.233,0.052-3.637,0.052 s-2.688-0.009-3.637-0.052c-0.877-0.04-1.354-0.187-1.671-0.31c-0.42-0.163-0.72-0.358-1.035-0.673 c-0.315-0.315-0.51-0.615-0.673-1.035c-0.123-0.317-0.27-0.794-0.31-1.671C4.631,14.688,4.622,14.403,4.622,12 s0.009-2.688,0.052-3.637c0.04-0.877,0.187-1.354,0.31-1.671c0.163-0.42,0.358-0.72,0.673-1.035 c0.315-0.315,0.615-0.51,1.035-0.673c0.317-0.123,0.794-0.27,1.671-0.31C9.312,4.631,9.597,4.622,12,4.622 M12,3 C9.556,3,9.249,3.01,8.289,3.054C7.331,3.098,6.677,3.25,6.105,3.472C5.513,3.702,5.011,4.01,4.511,4.511 c-0.5,0.5-0.808,1.002-1.038,1.594C3.25,6.677,3.098,7.331,3.054,8.289C3.01,9.249,3,9.556,3,12c0,2.444,0.01,2.751,0.054,3.711 c0.044,0.958,0.196,1.612,0.418,2.185c0.23,0.592,0.538,1.094,1.038,1.594c0.5,0.5,1.002,0.808,1.594,1.038 c0.572,0.222,1.227,0.375,2.185,0.418C9.249,20.99,9.556,21,12,21s2.751-0.01,3.711-0.054c0.958-0.044,1.612-0.196,2.185-0.418 c0.592-0.23,1.094-0.538,1.594-1.038c0.5-0.5,0.808-1.002,1.038-1.594c0.222-0.572,0.375-1.227,0.418-2.185 C20.99,14.751,21,14.444,21,12s-0.01-2.751-0.054-3.711c-0.044-0.958-0.196-1.612-0.418-2.185c-0.23-0.592-0.538-1.094-1.038-1.594 c-0.5-0.5-1.002-0.808-1.594-1.038c-0.572-0.222-1.227-0.375-2.185-0.418C14.751,3.01,14.444,3,12,3L12,3z M12,7.378 c-2.552,0-4.622,2.069-4.622,4.622S9.448,16.622,12,16.622s4.622-2.069,4.622-4.622S14.552,7.378,12,7.378z M12,15 c-1.657,0-3-1.343-3-3s1.343-3,3-3s3,1.343,3,3S13.657,15,12,15z M16.804,6.116c-0.596,0-1.08,0.484-1.08,1.08 s0.484,1.08,1.08,1.08c0.596,0,1.08-0.484,1.08-1.08S17.401,6.116,16.804,6.116z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">Instagram<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Paige Milatz<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">__________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:25px\"><strong><em>Porcupine<\/em>, Thirty-One Years Later<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">I would like to tell<br>Miss Oliver<br>about my good luck,<br>my encounter&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">with a porcupine<br>in quill and forest:<br>A recently tumbled<br>Cottonwood tree,&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">leaves still glossy green<br>leaning away from the river<br>instead of upright and&nbsp;<br>there she was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">How slow, how sloth-like<br>she moved on the branches<br>of the thick tree! How<br>the portly lady arrived there,<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">the question remains.&nbsp;<br>Probably slowly.<br>And not once, but twice<br>I witnessed her glory<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">in that magical corner<br>of the sylvan world,<br>practically my own backyard&nbsp;<br>and then never again.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">The swollen balloon&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>that is my heart&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>twice chose the path&nbsp;<br>that brought me near to her<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">and that is the path&nbsp;<br>I intend to walk<br>for this long and beautiful life,<br>full of trees and porcupines.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">__________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:25px\"><strong>Pocket Gopher, Thou Hath Eaten All My Daisies And So I Write This Poem To You<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">You dig down deep into the Earth<br>And suddenly reappear<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Talons and beaks, the bright white Sun<br>What is it that you fear?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Your sturdy snout plows through the dirt<br>With whiskers full of dust<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Such mightiness of effort displayed\u2014<br>The rocks and roots you thrust!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Tall mounds of soil stand sentinel<br>O\u2019er a labyrinth far below<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Thy loamy lumps recall the souls<br>who make underground \u2018Home Sweet Home.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">__________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:25px\"><strong>The Mallard and Me<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">A duck would rather be wet than dry<br>and so would I,<br>yes, so would I!&nbsp;<br>When the rain falls from the sky\u2014<br>the cloud-filled sky\u2014<br>so very high!&nbsp;<br>But I would rather walk than fly<br>because I have no wings to try,<br>to try and reach the cloud-filled sky\u2014<br>so very high\u2014<br>I cannot fly!&nbsp;<br>Unlike the duck who quacked goodbye<br>and flapped his wings to start to fly:<br>Goodbye! I waved up to the sky<br>and now I\u2019d rather be home and dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">__________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"558\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2026\/04\/IMG_0321-e1777061552905.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-22127\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Paige Milatz&#8217;s<\/strong> dapper cat, Winston.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">__________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Paige Milatz<\/strong> writes and lives in a happy home in the Little Spokane River Valley with her cat and husband. Her poems have been published in <em>Canyon Voices<\/em> and <em>The Bluebird Word<\/em>, with poetry forthcoming in an anthology from Empty Bowl Press. Her work was also accepted into the 2026 Bread Loaf Environmental Writer\u2019s Conference. You can find more of her writing on Substack @ Treat Her Right (<a href=\"https:\/\/treatherright.substack.com\/\">https:\/\/treatherright.substack.com\/<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>__________<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"438\" height=\"211\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/01\/boudin-logo-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15484\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/01\/boudin-logo-1.jpg 438w, https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/01\/boudin-logo-1-300x145.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 438px) 100vw, 438px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size\">&lt;&lt; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/missys-animal-rescue\/\">Back<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/junefly\/\">Next<\/a> &gt;&gt;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">To learn more about submitting your work to <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/boudin-submissions\/\">Boudin<\/a><\/em> or applying to McNeese State University&#8217;s Creative Writing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/mfa-application-submissions\/\">MFA program<\/a>, please visit Submissions for details.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Paige Milatz __________ Porcupine, Thirty-One Years Later I would like to tellMiss Oliverabout my good luck,my encounter&nbsp; with a porcupinein quill and forest:A recently tumbledCottonwood tree,&nbsp; leaves still glossy greenleaning away from the riverinstead of upright and&nbsp;there she was. How slow, how sloth-likeshe moved on the branchesof the thick tree! Howthe portly lady arrived there,&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":97,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[251],"tags":[75,145,18],"class_list":["post-21970","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-third-annual-pet-writing-contest","tag-boudin","tag-poetry-2","tag-poetry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21970","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/97"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21970"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21970\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22170,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21970\/revisions\/22170"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21970"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21970"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21970"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}