{"sf1_id":982731,"sf2_id":"dePGj6A1","title":"Release","author":"taladrian","words":247,"posted_at":"2016-04-04T14:01:00.000Z","tags":["Poem","Poetry","Raccoon","True Story"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/982731-release","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/dePGj6A1","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/51/d2/51d21a87-184e-4239-8fec-65bbf21e265a","description":"#3 of Poetry\n\nThis is the third of four poems I did for my creative writing class. We were told to come up with a location that gives us hope.\nLike the previous poem, this also is a true story. I was volunteering at a wildlife rehab center, and we had a group of raccoons that were getting ready for release. On my 21st birthday, we released them in the location described. I realize that the location itself isn't what made it special, but the events that occurred there are. This was not the only release I did while volunteering there, I had the privilege to help in the rehab and release of foxes, squirrels, birds, and several other animals as well. But this was my first one, and was special in a way that I still don't think I captured in this poem, but it's as close as I'm going to get.\nAs always, comments and constructive criticism is welcome. :)","content":"-- Release --\n\nMy trembling fingers reach for the latch.\n\nRaccoons chitter and scratch\n\nFrom within the cage.\n\nThe stream nearby trickles with glee\n\nAs the leaves in the trees rustle greetings\n\nThe raccoons have finally come of age.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nOnce abandoned by parents, dead or long gone.\n\nThe young ones surely had done nothing wrong.\n\nThey cried out - lonely\n\nHearing the sounds of crying young creatures\n\nSomeone follows it, finding the squeakers\n\nSmall and comely.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nMasks of black break up their silvery gray,\n\nTheir striped, puffy tails all sway in every which way.\n\nWho will take care of them?\n\nThey're taken to the Center\n\nFor animals lost, sick, injured.\n\nIt's short drive away, surely they'll answer,\n\n\"What happened to them?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nA year passes by, the babies grow up\n\nThe dear little things, no longer just pups.\n\nTheir new home awaits.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nWhen the cage latch opens, the raccoons crawl out\n\nAnd explore their surroundings, confused, there's no doubt.\n\nWill they be happy?\n\nThen all five faces turn upward at me\n\nTheir eyes widen, all gleaming, \"We're finally free,\"\n\nTheir lips tightened back and showed just two tiny teeth\n\nAs they smiled at me \"Don't you dare worry!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nIn my mind this place still exists,\n\nI remember it well, the peace of this visit.\n\nI close my eyes, and listen.\n\nThe stream nearby trickles with glee\n\nAs the leaves in the trees rustle greetings\n\nThe eyes of raccoons looking up as they glisten.\n\n  \n  \n\n","series":{"name":"Poetry","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/982730-uncomfortable-comfort.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/982732-my-dreams-are-in-stories.json"}}