Meditations on a Rat

As you may recall, my rat-hating husband cruelly interred baby rat Niccolo in the trash. I "made" him write poetry as penance. Yesterday, I got the rat poetry from my dear husband. Apparently, I underestimated DH's ability to produce something "soon." Perhaps I shall bring up the matter of the gutters again...

Here is the lovely note accompanying said poetry:
"Tracy,

Please accept these submissions for the rat blog. I wrote them quickly, so they may not be up to the standards of professional poets, but I think they illuminate ideas on death and immortality."

They are indeed quite philosophical... Enjoy, gentle readers (actually, I suspect "readers" should not be plural).

"On Nicco #1" -draft 2
Uncertainty
Niccolo was killed by a cat.
After all, he was only a rat.
The diseases he spreads are well-known.
Leah was simply protecting her home.
A rat’s death we should not despair,
For there will be more rats, perhaps upon the stair.
Nicco suffered a great travail.
He fought, was cared for, to no avail.
The young rat died, that is certain.
Who pulled the final curtain?
Life is dangerous, life is weak
Nicco took a chance, and Leah reached.
The rat, though vermin, reminds us all
The cat’s jaws are open and ready to fall.

--Rat-Hater (2009---original)


“On Niccolo #2—Wish to Follow” -draft 2
Niccolo, young rat, do not despair.
Your life is better, away from here.
You may be transformed into a cat
Then you too may kill a rat.
Your tail was long, your fur was gray,
But what did you do to fill your day?
Fight with your brethren for your milk?
You will suffer no more on this earth to tread.
Perhaps your glittering eye may some distant
Galaxy soon espy, and you could trace
For the human race a sign of hope.
O’ Nicco, who can say what you will be.
The far country for you may be everlasting
Plains of joy and mirth where no cat pounces,
Do not fear it, Nicco.
Accept the freedom and be glad;
For you, Nicco, have escaped from the dying planet, Earth.

--Rat-Hater (2009---original)