The Ghost Of A Mouse (Poetry)

There once was a mouse in the cupboard
a mouse that crept in from the wood
though in truth he was really no trouble
he nibbled at more than he should

We had no heart in us to trap him
and poison’s a murderous thought
we removed every morsel or scrap he
could reach of an edible sort

We cleaned out the cupboard completely
scrubbed it and blocked every crack
till hygenic and now smelling sweetly
we felt sure that he wouldn’t be back

But as we relaxed that same evening
a soft sound like scratching we heard
and it seemed that despite all the cleaning
our mouse-friend was quite undeterred

We tiptoed right up to the cupboard
and listened — then threw the door wide
annoyed our hard work had been scuppered
and convinced that darn mouse was inside

Not a whisker — no trace — not one dropping
as evidence he was to blame
perplexed as to how we could stop him
for he’d proved to be good at the game

we resorted to buying a kitten
thinking Nature would then take its course
but the puss appeared scared and stayed sitting
even when mouse’s scratching got worse

It was strange — though we heard, no one saw it
not a glimpse of a tail flicking past
but we had to do something before it
sent us all barking — and fast!

We took out the advert on Monday
and by Friday the house had been sold
we’d packed up and moved out by Sunday
though the weather was bitterly cold

The transaction went through without comment
thus the buyer was stuck playing host
to a stubborn, unseen sitting tenant
be it quick or mere ghost of a mouse