I scrambled up the steep smooth climb

                                         I eked my way up the incline

                                        A glance took note of obstacles there:

                                        One rather monstrous prickly pear

                                        No matter; he was far away

                                        He wouldn’t bother me today

                                        Camera on, I turned around

                                        And sighted parents on the ground

                                        Leaning back to catch the light

                                        The picture wasn’t yet quite right

                                        I almost had the shot in sight

                                        Quick pain! And then I shot upright

                                        A startled look upon my face

                                        On meeting with that strange embrace

                                        And then I turned around to find

                                        I had been prickly pear enspined

                                        How sly to take a shot so cheap

                                        That pesky prickly pear did creep

                                        Unseen until his chance appeared

                                        He struck! And at my yelp he leered

                                        A gleam, a smirk, no, ’twas a sneer

                                        That satisfied, he flung my way,

                                        Some day, I swear, that jerk will pay.