In every garden

I love spending time in the garden  ...

the scents,

the sounds,

the sights.

So I let myself forget

that other creatures call it home as well;

until they startle me into remembering -

With their little SSSSSSSSy sounds and darting tongue.

Everyone reassured me that its a common garter snake

and I should be grateful to it 

because its helping with small rodent control.

Understood, but, if you don't mind,

 I'll be grateful from a distance.

I'd be even MORE grateful if my neighbors yard looked like a better option

for a permanent residence.

It will be days before I can go out into the garden to weed again!

 I think I'll just sit on the deck 

and smell the lilacs,

thank you very much.