Peter the squirrel realized he had made some poor decisions of late. Storming when he should have retreated, taking when he should have given, speaking when silence would have been preferable.

Peter realized that he was adrift.

Pacing his tiny, one room house, 'What should I do?' he thought. He then remembered his special piece of paper. Peter stopped his pacing and walked over to a small table. In the center of the table was a tiny box made from the two halves of a walnut. Peter removed the top half of the box. Inside was a small, folded-once note. Peter took out the note and unfolded it. Scrawled on the paper, in a hand probably not his own were the words, 'Just be kind'.

Peter could not remember why this would help, but he had learned instinctively to trust this small scrap of paper.

noble creatures that ride the
echoes of marble walls and staircases

memories lying on the pale skin
of sweet scented hosts

walking past polished
and lacquered storefronts

Peter the Squirrel repositioned his nest padding so that he could lie on his back and watch the stars as he fell asleep. (Peter's nest was on the very top floor of a tall cedar tree that had its top broken off.)

As the sunlight faded and the air cooled, the sky began to fill with tiny lights. First planets, then the boldest twinkling stars, followed by whole constellations. Peter fell asleep before the glowing swath of the Milky Way appeared, his soft white belly exposed to the universe.

"He smells like an ape
and he moves like a snail"
the Hummingbird said
with a flick of his tail.
"I'd rather live quick
and leave a bright trail
than worry to death
each tiny detail."

"How like a god
as he surveys his land"
said the Dragonfly
as it sat on my hand.
"To have a home
and a wife by my side,
as darkness falls
to be able to hide."

"I dreamt I was a man
and he dreamt he was me"
said the Butterfly excited,
"all the things I could see!"
"Yes, a man for awhile
was a great thing to be,
but for now I'll just
fly around and be me."