The Mousetrap Poem by Herbert Nehrlich

A mouse looked through a tiny crack
to see the farmer and his spouse
who opened what she had brought back
from shopping back here to the house.

'What food might be in that small bag? '
the mouse thought then he saw the trap
his shoulders now began to sag
he quickly donned his outdoor cap

to see his friends there on the farm.
'Mousetrap' he yelled, 'it's in the house',
There now was reason for alarm
the chicken said, 'shush, Mister Mouse

it is of great concern to you
but personally I could not care',
returned to scratching in the poo
so Mouse went to the pig, 'I dare'

said porky 'to include all mice
into my prayers every day
that this despicable device
shall be defect, so let me pray.'

Next on his walk he met the cow
who was in a peculiar mood
she said 'I'll ask you, truly, how
it matters to my bovine food? '

The utterly dejected mouse
now bravely raised his hairy chin
went through the den into the house
to pay the piper for his sin.

At midnight then a sound was heard
it was a loud and nasty click
the farmer said 'It works, my word',
the wife, though felt a little sick.

And in the dark the farmers wife
who still was up and wide awake
now took a look (armed with a knife)
but failed to see the six-foot snake.

The snake was caught right at the tail
and very angry, so he bit
the woman who began to wail
a cobra bite! That would be it.

The farmer raced his four-wheel-drive
into the hospital at speed
she was more dead now than alive
the Reaper waited, yes, indeed.

They sent her home three days from then
though there she did develop fever
the man went to the chicken pen
and chopped the chicken with a cleaver.

The chicken soup at first did strengthen
and perk her up and there was hope
but in the end it served to lengthen
the struggle, and she could not cope.

So, friends and neighbours came to sit
and help the farmer lift her mood
as they succeeded bit by bit
the farmer went to get some food.

He butchered his beloved pig
to feed the helpers of his bride
their appetites were pretty big
that morning though, the woman died.

The funeral attracted dozens
about two hundred full of grief
and from a distance aunts and cousins,
for food he served the cow, all beef.

The mouse now sat behind the crack
great sadness flooded from his eyes
he thought that in the odd attack
on friends and neighbours it is wise

to just assume that we are all
inside the boat that God has made
and that together we shall fall
mowed down by the Grim Reaper's blade.

That day the mouse made one more pledge
to help wherever he was able
a mouse who lives right near the edge
can be of help in any stable

and with this logic, in return
all creatures can be faced with danger
don't say it's none of my concern
no living thing should be a stranger.

The barn was stocked again with cows
and pigs and goats and even sheep
a fresh young woman ran the house
and in the pantry, sound asleep

was one proud mouse, still in his dream
he smacked his lips and rolled his eyes
for breakfast it was cheese with cream
and later broccoli and fries.

The gods had said that they were willing
to let the animals survive
and no more butchering and killing
a nouveau age would soon arrive.

All farmers turned to growing crops
for vegetarian fare which was
now mandatory, no more chops
and no more meat, nor eeh's and aaw's.

As you can see a great solution
was found inside a mouse's brain
the pathway to its execution
was short and didn't cause much pain.

I wonder, can we human sinners
look out for others, foe or friend
or must a few of us be winners
who will be lonely in the end?