Infestation

A poem of mice, men, and things “gang agley”

Photo by Denise Shelton

I said to my spouse

“There’s a mouse in the house.”

On the day home from being away

I feasted my eyes on tomato surprise

Not the tuna-stuffed dish

Oh, if only! I wish!

But a fruit near the sink

That we’d left, somewhat pink

To fully mature

Now ringed with manure

And half-laid to waste

This rodent had taste

For this was an heirloom

Organic, not cheap

And until I avenged it

I’d get little sleep

So I read up on mice

To learn what I might

What I learned wasn’t nice

Things didn’t look bright

For the chances are high

When a mouse is nearby

It isn’t just one

There’s much to be done

Before you can sleep well at night

Now I’m not a cold killer