I Have No Doubt That It Was So

This one was different.
He wasn’t skittish — didn’t flit away.
He made direct eye contact — stood his ground.

And me too! I stood my ground and made eye contact.
I certainly didn’t flit — and skittish
Didn’t enter the equation. And oh — I see myself as —
Different.

It was a standoff.
Neither of us gave any quarter.
Neither of us showed fear.
Both seemed surprised, brave, curious.
Both — waited.

I was the first to move. I went into my house.
From my window, I watched for another ten? minutes.
He never flinched and moved only to better
Observe me at the window —
Observing him.

I am quite certain that this squirrel was a reincarnated spirit.
He was — intimidating. There was nothing benevolent about this
Encounter.

But whose spirit?
Who, in what life, had I so offended?