Out of Hibernation

Photo by Klara Kulikova on Unsplash

The Hedgehog

by John Clare

The hedgehog hides beneath the rotten hedge

And makes a great round nest of grass and sedge,

Or in a bush or in a hollow tree;

And many often stoop and say they see

Him roll and fill his prickles full of crabs

And creep away; and where the magpie dabs

His wing at muddy dyke, in aged root

He makes a nest and fills it full of fruit,

On the hedge bottom hunts for crabs and sloes

And whistles like a cricket as he goes.

It rolls up like a ball or shapeless hog

When gipsies hunt it with their noisy dog;

I've seen it in their camps — they call it sweet,

Though black and bitter and unsavoury meat.

A hedgehog came to our garden this week to hoover up the bits that had fallen from our bird table. It's the first one I've seen for many months, but I had forgotten that they hibernate from October or November to March or April. Find out more about hedgehogs here.

It must take them a while to readjust as they emerge from maybe six months of hibernation, during which time they enter a state of torpor. They have slowed right down, but must then suddenly become active again in the big wide world, getting used to meeting other hedgehogs. (We once witnessed a male attempting to woo a female in our back garden. It was a lengthy procedure, involving a lot of circling and a great deal of snorting. She was unimpressed.)

Like hedgehogs, we're emerging now from our Covid-enforced hibernation. From next Monday you'll be able to go for a meal, visit the cinema, have a sauna, stay in a B&B and have the grandchildren to stay - to name but a few welcome changes. Some of you may be shouting, "Yippee!" Others, however, may be feeling apprehensive and cautious. 

Writing Prompts:

• Write about how you feel as we approach a change in the rules.
• What is the first thing you will do that you have not been able to because of restrictions? Write about it.
• Write about hedgehogs.