Writers Weir: Flying Cats

Hurry scurry little mouse, a flying cat takes flight.
Make no noise, burrow fast, and don’t be caught at night.
Run much faster, show him who’s master, quick to your little home.
Check both ways, no time to pray, don’t be like Al Capone.
Silent wings and talons poised you reach and scoop up dinner.
Then off to the nest, you’ve done your best, that’s why you’re called the winner.
One more kill, and they’ve had their fill, against dawn’s early light.
You turn your head, no remorse for the dead, another one’s in your sight.
Owlets hungry, mouths wide open, your task is never done.
So open your wings, and do it again, it’s almost time for sun.

 

More in Neighbors

The whale sculpture at Overstreet park breaches at sunrise on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. (Mari Kanagy/Juneau Empire)
Weekly events guide: Juneau community calendar for Dec. 22-28

Visit Juneau Arts and Humanities Council at JAHC.org for more details on this week’s happenings.

Hiking down from Dan Moller cabin in mid-January 2025. (photo courtesy John Harley)
Sustainable Alaska: Skiing on the edge

The difference between a great winter for skiing and a bad one can be a matter of a few degrees.

Jeff Lund photo 
The author practices in case he had the chance to be Jimmy from the 1986 movie Hoosiers. He never got the chance on the basketball floor, but had moments in life in which he needed to be clutch.
Opinion: Everyone wants to be Jimmy

Sports, and the movie “Hoosiers,” can teach you lessons in life

Laura Rorem (courtesy photo)
Living and Growing: Gracious, gentle power

Gracious power is grace expressed with kindness and mercy.

Juneau as pictured from the Downtown Public Library on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2025. (Mari Kanagy/Juneau Empire)
Weekly events guide: Juneau community calendar for Dec. 15-21

Visit Juneau Arts and Humanities Council at JAHC.org for more details on this week’s happenings.

Downtown Juneau experiences its first significant city-level snow fall of the season as pictured on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (Mari Kanagy / Juneau Empire)
Weekend guide for Dec. 12-14

Visit Juneau Arts and Humanities Council at jahc.org for more details on this week’s happenings.

A totem pole, one of 13 on downtown’s Totem Pole Trail in Juneau, Alaska, Nov. 27, 2024. (Christopher S. Miller/The New York Times)
Peggy McKee Barnhill (Courtesy photo)
Gimme a smile: My roommate’s name is Siri

She hasn’t brought a lot of stuff into the house, and she takes up very little space.

photo courtesy Tim Harrison 
Rev. Tim Harrison is senior pastor at Chapel by the Lake.
Living and Growing: I Wonder as I Wander

The Rev. Tim Harrison reflects on the Christmas season.

Most Read