"Glue Traps"
A Svelte black striped skink lay contorted
And a Soft Little Grey Mouse, recently Drowned,
And A Spider And A Ladybug, and
On A Glue Trap Found In The Garage,
My Grandfather Showed me the Photograph
He Had Taken of His Recent Find.
"What Do You Think?" He asked me, intently.
I Said It Was Interesting, he said,
"That's Art, Caroline, That's Life And Death
And The Meaning of Life, All in a Photograph!"
"What Do You See?"  He Asked Me, I Said,
"I Found a similar little mouse stuck in one
of your glue traps about ten years ago.  he was alive.
And quite frightened.  Sharp little teeth.  I know because
He bit through my hand several times
as I was freeing his fingers and delicate tail
from the sticky surface of one of your glue traps.
I freed him and he ran into the air conditioner
"It's really Sad," I agreed.  Why do you put
Those Damn Things Out Anyway, Bumpaw?"
He Just Got This Sad, Faraway look in his eyes
squinted into the distance, snorted away a tear, and
shook his head.  "It needs to be done," He Determined.
I Just Smiled Sadly, and went on making a spinach bacon Quiche.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen!