Some fine contributions made by fans and squirrels over the 4th of July Squirrel Poetry Weekender 2009.

As you know, if you've read my book, rats are the masters of rhyme in NYC, so we left it to Murray and Delancy to make the final decision for the winners. It wasn't easy.

Honourable mentions go to Aubrey Jones,Tian Chen, Robin Wendell Glover, Melanie Rose and Eric Carroll. Please make sure you visit my facebook page to read their contributions.

Winner of

"most tweetable" is VICTORIA COCHRAN with

wood bench, summer dreams
her brown bag--one final nut
fickle lover waits

In 3rd place CAROLINE ANDREWS with

Looking for Kalandaka
People come to parks
Carrying peanuts

Kalandaka, lovely squirrel
Why do cats bug you?
You know you're smarter

In 2nd place TARA FLYNN

Paws off that bin-pizza!
I wouldn't mind, but you'll leave bits on my bike.
That's the bit that I don't like;
Observing from atop the trees as I unpeel the oily cheese.
Hah! You fell.
Though climbing's the thing at which you excel
Now you're failed at that as well.
You should have laid off the bin-pizza; it's obviously affecting your performance.

And the winner, as it made us all in the tree laugh was by Carol Borthwick

Hey Kalandaka whatcha doin' in the city?
A squirrel like you should be in the country sittin' pretty.
Livin' the karma, holdin' your own.
Country cousins make it feel like home.
Fine lady squirrels just waiting for a chance.
For our man Kalandaka to put 'em in a trance.
No cement no cabs no trucks in that scene.
Lotsa nuts juicy berries if you know what I mean.
Hey Kalandaka whatcha doin' in Union Square?
A squirrel like you should be breathin' country air.