Of Mice and Me
‘Trouble with mice is you always kill ’em’
~ Lennie
Bread crumbs trail my counter
to the pantry Milwaukee record
snow my new husband sets traps
traipses off to work leaves me
trapped with snow – 3 feet – 4 feet
and mice.
I bundle the bread, can the
crackers, kettle the dried beans –
jar and jug any sweets.
(my husband places shoe
boxes – holes in the sides – over
the traps so I don’t see the
dead mice)
I hear the snaps. And I wonder why
I am terrified of something sooooooo little –
and grey – and quick – and startling –
and quiet.
But, why wouldn’t I be?
10 thoughts on "Of Mice and Me"
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this is a killer poem
p.s. nice epigraph
Killer poem – clever one, Jim!
Deb – We can all relate to this poem – You set it up almost like a horror movie – deep snow, alone in the house, with (scream) the mice! Love the phrases “kettle the dried beans” and “jug and jar any sweets.”
Descriptive details are excellent, ditto comment of Sylvia on the phrases she mentioned
Agree with above comments and enjoyed the poem!
I really enjoyed this poem
“little, gray, quick, startling, quiet” exactly!! What a scene you set – snowed in, husband gone, mice gone amuck!! Love it!!
Husband thought of the shoebox chamber! So clever as the poem is clever, clear and evocative.
A poem rich in story and detail. Really like how you end on that question, like it’s silly to even wonder about not being scared.
Ha, a delight! The first stanza, with its “tail,” is particularly good. I, too, like the epigraph and will check my recollection of the source as soon as I leave LexPoMo site.
love the shoe box part. Original!