muffled scampering
     and gnawing behind
          ornate wallpaper

a threat to those of
     us bouncing between
          post and beam borders

they might taint our food
     our plastic-coated
          loaves of whole wheat bread

they might drop dirty
     bombs on our pristine
          kitchen countertops

they might deprive us
     of something that is
          ours - absolute ease

so dispatch the troops
     send in the agile
          to pounce and then claw

set and bait the traps
     the SNAP may strangle
          or perhaps mangle

a fellow mammal -
     the deer - brought down our
          tallest sunflower

the prodding muzzle
     and quivering lips
          weakened the thick stem

the brown faced flower
     with a yellow mane
          toppled to packed soil

black ants scurried down
     the severed stem while
          some plunged to the ground

deer escaped under
     the drab dunes of Fall's
          swirling foliage

he is elusive
     so we feel we must
          create a scapegoat

now a soiled finger
     points accusingly
          at supposed threat

Copyright 2004 by Corey Cook