Jean Valjean

No sound of clocks
tracking the time
at 6:37 the rat scurries across the invisible line
high up on the leaning fence
from my corner window I observe
this grotesque creature claiming its nameless turf

Every day I twitch

when I see its tail
zig zagging around the traps which seem to have failed
my futile attempts
have become embraced
and I’ve surrendered to its swift and rapid race

For what purpose does my mission achieve?

whether it’s dead, alive, or perfectly clean
why should I care whether its free to roam
there’s a place for every animal to find their home

Should I call pest control and make a big stink

warn my friends, have them over for a drink
form an anti-rat neighborhood watch?
I wonder if they would care for this as much

In the meantime I’ve christened this blasted rat

with a familiar name like jean valjean
every dusk it taunts me and awaits to be seen
scuttling across my sideyard wall
for now I’m content and will silence my shout
and watch my little friend scurry about
at 6:37 across the invisible line
like a clock ticking without a sound
tick, tock, tick, tock, shhhhhhhhhh

Like a clock ticking without a sound …..Co-written by beatriZ & Gabi 10/09