July 17, 2008
Why the ’Possum?
The opossum is a noble beast, though much maligned in common thought. Sad to say, most residents of North America see the opossum as of little more use other than to decorate the shoulders of our nation’s highways and to serve as examples of why one shouldn’t cross the road at night. Others see him as a “giant rat,” though he isn’t a rodent at all. And nearly everyone seems to think he is a filthy critter because of his habit of rooting through neighborhood trash cans.
These are all malicious myths that sully the reputation of a princely creature. Please traipse through these pages and see if your estimation of the opossum is what it ought to be. Vive l’opossum!
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5 Responses to “Why the ’Possum?”
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“While he is capable of falling over on his side, his mouth open in a death-like grin with saliva running out, from which state he cannot be roused until the danger is past, this is usually done only as a last resort.”
I too reserve this ploy as a last resort.
Vive l’opossum!
I’ve met a few opossums. They were playful, but they were orphans. The adults, I hear, aren’t the most pleasant of creatures.
Perhaps the greatest 20th century assault on the Possum’s dignity was Ezra Pound’s giving TSE the possum nickname.
Your possum has survived for so many millennia that he will doubtless thrive long after TSE, Pound, and the ‘OP’ sobriquet are forgotten.