they come in the night 
tall and sleek and brown
theres no worry or fright 
they move with heads down 

honed in on the porch begonias
the stakes are high at being caught 
ignoring any of the cats ammonia 
they nibble without a care or thought 

of us sleeping soundly in our homes
dead center of our sleepy town 
where all of the college kids have gone
there’s nothing but us locals to be found

Jerry in his wisdom
as if he knew we would need it 
talked about his farming system
in his voice and sharp wit 

so tonight I spray liquid fence 
along the boundary of the porch
I’m not sure it’s such a good defense
but I’ll trust a man and his research