Possums

Creatures called possums are found on two continents,
Each with a whole different order.
The name’s from Virginia Algonquian, having
John Smith as one English recorder.

The American sort has a thin fleshy tail,
Short gray fur, and a pointed white head.
It is known to withstand lots of rattlesnake venom.
Its go-to defense: playing dead.

The Australian variety comes in more colors:
Gray, silver, red, cream, black, and brown.
It’s smaller on av’rage except in the ears,
And its fur grows in thick all around.

It mostly eats plants, eucalyptus espec’ly,
Along with fruits, flowers, and seeds.
The American possum is keener to scavenge
And chow down on bugs for its needs.

Both types of marsupials favor the woodlands
But learned to adapt to the urban.
Australia’s fares well in more habitats, like
Semi-arid. Now that’s self-preservin’.

Some sticklers insist that America’s possum
Alone should come after an O,
But both have been given each spelling at times,
So would I care to edit it? No.