“A thing of beauty is a joy forever,” wrote the poet John Keats. “Some shape of beauty moves away the pall/From our dark spirits,” he continues in Book I of “Endymion.” The revered poet cites “The sun, the moon/Trees old and young,” along with other restorative elements of nature. 

At this time of year, when things can appear overwhelmingly dreary and tipped toward darkness, it can be helpful to focus on “some shape of beauty” to lift our spirits and lighten our hearts. Therefore—gray squirrels. 

Although Keats does not specifically mention these fetching furry mammals, I’ll bet he’d acknowledge the beauty they bring to the world, and as such, their ability to “move away the pall,” to help us lighten up. Bear with me as we open to the possibility that squirrels are indeed things of beauty, and therefore potential supporters of our well-being.

Perhaps you DON’T like squirrels. You’re not alone. They can be messy, scrappy and seemingly overly abundant, running in front of our cars and causing us to brake when we really need to get to that appointment or we’ll be late. Sometimes they take up residence in places where they are not welcome, or patter across the roof of your house, triggering the dogs into a barking frenzy. They raid the bird feeders you try futilely to keep filled for your feathered friends. And—after all—they are RODENTS. Just like rats. 

But what’s wrong with that? Rats are things of beauty too, when viewed with an open mind through the lens of curiosity. Very few creatures can compete with the rat’s adaptability, its success at survival and more. But I digress.

Perhaps you DO like squirrels, and don’t really care if they’re rodents, because—after all—what’s in a word? You are not alone either. I chanced across some Instagram accounts posted by devoted squirrel fans and was astonished at the abundance of impassioned images and videos. Squirrels being tenderly combed with toothbrushes, peppered with kisses, cuddled with cooing noises, dressed up in tiny outfits and miniature hats. 

I am not advocating for keeping squirrels as pets. But I do offer some advice for coexisting with squirrels, for appreciating them in their natural environment and for enjoying their unique beauty:

Clip and affix this column to your fridge with a smiley face magnet. The next time you find yourself all worked up over the new hole in your screen door inflicted by your backyard squirrel—who was only peering in because they wanted a snack (don’t we all?)—just look at these pics and repeat after me: “A thing so cute is a joy forever.” 

I plan to take my own advice as I head to the hardware store to buy the stuff to repair my screen before bug season is back. Feeling lighter already!

Speaking of things of beauty, read about the exciting “Trees Please” project launching in the Upper Delaware River region. See the story in this issue of the River Reporter, page 14.