Happy Poetry Friday! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! This week we are hosted by Ruth HERE. Make sure you stop by and see what poetry goodness she has for us this week. Thank you, Ruth.
I was AWOL from my blog last week preparing for the holiday, but today is Thanksgiving Day and I would like to share a poem about a visitor we had.
THE NIGHT OF THANKSGIVING (After THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS by Clement C. Moore) On the night of Thanksgiving, all through the house my family was napping, but not that gray mouse. As I cleaned up the kitchen, stowed the turkey away, that soft furry creature stirred up my day. From out of the mud room, past kitchen chairs he dashed to the bathroom— we cornered him there, got out a trap, anxious to get him, but if I hurt that small mouse I’d never forget him! So in a Tupperware bowl we trapped the darn thing and put him outside for the relief it would bring. He’s out in the snow, that little field mouse. We just couldn’t have him inside our house. ©Janice Scully 2021
He was actually tiny and cute and I’m not alone in writing about mice. Here is a well known anthology of poems about mice compiled by Nancy Larrick:
I found this charming poem by A.A. Milne:
MISSING Has anybody seen my mouse? I opened his box for just a minute, Just to make sure he was really in it, And while I was looking, he jumped outside! I tried to catch him, I tried, I tried . . . . I think he's somewhere about the house. Has anyone seen my mouse? Uncle John, have you seen my mouse? Just a small sort of mouse, a dear little brown one, He came from the country, he isn't a town one, So he'll feel all lonely in a London street, Why, what could he possibly find to eat? He must be somewhere. I'll ask Aunt Rose: Have you seen a mouse with a woffelly nose? Oh, somewhere about-- He's just got out . . . . Hasn't anybody seen my mouse? A.A. Milne
Irene Latham posted several of Valerie Worth’s poems inspired by critters, including this one about mice, (the first two stanzas).
MICE Mice Find places In places, A dark Hall behind The hall, READ THE REST HERE (AND OTHER POEMS ABOUT CRITTERS BY VALERIE WORTH)
Wishing everyone, and all critters everywhere, the best of the holiday!
Thank you, Ruth, for hosting Poetry Friday.