aka Candy2046

(***painless all in one version available here---> A Winter's Tail)

A Winter's~ Tail

Hi Lan,

One harsh Winter about five years ago, perhaps the worst in Southern California's history, it rained and rained and rained, day after day without stop, it fell so hard and fast that rivers dried up by ten years of drought quickly filled and overflowed almost over night. This torrent of water led to sudden mudslides...homes worth millions of dollars slid off mountain sides, highways collapsed, and some people, caught by surprise, were actually buried alive...

Late one night in the middle of this most horrific storm
a little field mouse came into my home
his fur was frazzled looking quite affright
sticking out in all directions,
a puffy gray and white

I couldn't help but coo in friendly sympathy
for the sight of him during our most unfortunate situation
appealed to me, as he kept bouncing into my room
hopping erratically the way field mice are known to

Reaching the center
he would often completely freeze
with head tilted just so,
to affix a curious beady black eye on me

Amused, I watched this dark
diminutive oval for an eye
grow very wide considering
my enormous size

It was easy to read
what was going through his mind
and sympathize when
he decided it wisest to flee

Over and over he did this dance for me
kept me laughing constantly
bouncing in, deliberating, running away again...

What a cute little fellow
both a strange and curious sight
the perfect remedy
for a cold and rainy night

It's ok, or so I thought,
He can stay through the storm,
for where do animals go
during torrential downpours?

©2009 www.aplace4sum.com

“A Winter's~ Tail” continued...

It would be several weeks
before the worst of the weather
finally did die down
enough so that surely my little guest
would have left by now

So to be awakened in the quiet of the night by a loud

CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH!

was quite the surprise

As so near and thunderous
this sound did seem,
I was half certain my little mouse friend
had crawled into bed with me

Now it was my turn
to have eyes grow affright
as hastily, I scrambled
to turn on the light

But no sooner had I illumed my room
that the little mouse had mysteriously
disappeared from view.

You little scoundrel you! I declared
so very relieved he hadn't been through my hair!
What are you doing in my room? You rascal you!

Crunching nuts!, I grumbled...
Into my ears! I groaned...
How daring! I growled...
So where have you disappeared to now! I yelled

Continuing to scold
I scowled about
seeking the whereabouts
of this intrusive minute mouse

after searching for some time
without much luck
disappointed,
I was forced to give up



Distraught, exhausted, and desperate for rest,
I turned the lights out and returned to my bed
Yet, hardly had I begun to doze
that by a deafening sound again I awoke

CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH!

Ah ha! I exclaimed
hopping out of my covers
while clicking back on the light
certain to catch this daring fellow
this time in my sight

How strange it was!
For never had I viewed a room
more undisturbed and empty
if he hadn't been so loud before
I would have thought I was dreaming

Where was he?

Hurriedly, I began looking about
peeking behind all the spots
that might be likely to hide a mouse
though searched I did for quite some time
his whereabouts, I couldn't find

What was he, some kind of magically endowed mouse?
One who could teleport at will anywhere throughout my house?

©2009 www.aplace4sum.com

“A Winter's~ Tail” continued...

Early the next day it was almonds I discovered broken into
disgusted, I discarded them and sealed up all the other food
There! I declared, satisfied with myself,
No more stealing you very bad little mouse!

It wouldn't be long now
before he had no choice but to leave
to go to where the grasses were moist and green
then once again I would have my peace

The next night it wasn't as surprising
While drifting near the threshold of sleep
to hear him decide this
was the perfect time to eat.

CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH!

CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH!

With eyes opened wide,
I didn't move this time
intent to just listen
trusting my ears for senses

CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH!

CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH!

The sheer nearness nearly unnerved me...

“CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH!”

Oh! to be so close, yet not be seen
it was as if he were a ghost and haunting me

CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH!

CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH!

Yes a ghost! And so close
he was sharing our pillow!
or so my alarmed senses bellowed!

Unable to stand it any longer
I turned on the light.
Disturbed to find no disturbances
no mouse in sight.

Nothing to break the silence
but my exasperated sigh
wondering where it was
one as sneaky as he
could actually hide

No matter...soon! I promised myself,
soon he would have have nothing left to eat
soon he would have little choice but to leave
soon would be my victory word
and soon his inevitable defeat

So Why? Why? Why!!! I often cursed inside,
As night after night I lay awake traumatized
forced to listen to such rambunctious crunching
for over an hour at a time!

Just how big was his food supply?

This battle of wills
this siege to starve him out
was not turning out so easy
to defeat this little mouse

CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH!

He munched like thunder

CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH!

Like a giant crushing rocks between humongous mousy teeth

CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH!

CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH!

Why did he have to chew so obnoxiously?
Gagging for breath between each greedy gobble,
this rabid mix of gasping and decibel shattering chomping glee
I often wondered if he might choke accidentally

CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH!

CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH!

...those nuts must have been awfully tasty!

©2009 www.aplace4sum.com

A Winter's~ Tail continued...

So where? Where? Where was he?
Certainly not in the wall
as the head of my bed was a window
and beneath was also quite clear
as were all the fixtures and furnitures near

So confused was I over
a mouse who could not be seen
I began to consider him invisible
and merely enjoying toying with me

Now it was I who was besieged
as my mouse haunted nights had turned into weeks
forced to listen to such an impetuous racket
each time he decided to snack
by the rate he was eating I was quite certain
he must be twice as fat!

Too distraught now at night to even fall asleep
my mounting frustration had finally reached a peek
I knew if I was ever to sleep again,
it was by force, I would have to remove him

Undaunted, the next day
I stomped out the door
only to see my resolve dissolve
While staring at the horrid options in the store

For not one of these many traps,
that electrocuted, broke backs, poisoned,
or permanently glued, seemed the proper fate
for a mouse that was so adorably cute

Especially one who had only entered
my home to escape a most dreadful rain...
I didn't want him to stay
Yet, I didn't want to obliterate him

Oh my! What a decision!
After all, this mouse was my friend
not only that, I'd let him in!

It was then I decided it more humane and wise
to go home and create a trap of my own devise
to catch and keep him healthy and alive
would be the nature of the enterprise

Surely I could be clever enough
for this little almond munching mouse
who was only showing appreciation
by profanely crunching munch loving lullabies
so loudly in my house

After some thought,
I came up with a simple plan
and placed a bunch of almonds
in a big paper grocery bag

Beneath the sink I left it open and laying on it's side
certain once, unable to resist, the critter crawled inside,
I'd quickly close the sack of nutty treasures right up
and carry him back outside.

Day after day, with anxious ear I awaited,
hoping to hear his little claws scrapping
from the trap inside my kitchen
but this clever tiny creature never did appear,
well...at least not at any time when I was aware

So without success these days passed from Winter into Spring,
and now that I had provided such a huge food supply
I would never get rid of him

©2009 www.aplace4sum.com

(h6>“A Winter's~ Tail” continued...

CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH!

Tormented, I lay awake each night in defeat

CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH!

Awaiting His Majesty to have his fill to eat,

CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH!

CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH!

How much longer before he'd had enough?

CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH!

How could a creature so small devour so much?

This was madness!
there must be a way to restore harmony in my life,
so out again I went a questing
for a more humane mouse catching device

After asking enough questions
I found the answer I so desperately sought,
it came in the form of the most ingenious little box,
made of tin and hinged with ramp and a spring
one that could let a mouse in but not out again

So laying a trail of nuts to follow
and a slab of moist poignant peanut butter awaiting just inside
it didn't take but a few days to awake to the most gracious surprise
for I could hear his claws scrapping from within
the belly of my cat of tin

At last I had him!!!

©2009 www.aplace4sum.com

A Winter's Tail cont...

Laughing and lifting the box to my eyes
While cooing as I had in the beginning
I got to admire my friend again
now caught in my little tin prison

Of me he didn't seem the least bit afraid
nor mind my gawking over
how cute, and clever, and incredibly small he was
Oh, what a nose! Especially when viewed from up close, so stacked and compacted
not to mention this most extraordinary serious appetite, even for mice
Certainly, it was high time to expel him from this tasty side of paradise!

Creature comfort corruption convinced me
to find a place far from anyone's home
as now that he had tasted the good life
surely he would attempt to return

So it was in a large field
some distance away
by a pretty little stream
I decided to release him

but having lived together through such a fierce Winter
and most of a long Spring
where each day I had hunted him
and each night he haunted me
now to see him finally set free
had me feeling both sad and happy

We were incompatible
so this had to be,
I consoled myself
wistfully

At least now, I could get some sleep
but where he had hid
did continue to haunt me
this most confounding
of unsolved mysteries

...It would be well over a year
while cleaning out a little cupboard
on high beside my bed,
so packed full of books
I could hardly pull one out
let alone stuff one in
a place I had considered time and time again

Yet, this volume of space was so completely consumed
certainly for him, there was absolutely no room
this, I assured myself each time I pressed the books further in
rather than bother to ever look behind them

But manage to squeeze in there he had,
for in back I found a newspaper nest
and almonds scattered about
it was quite a supply, as certain was I
there were hundreds by any account

completely disgusted
I cleaned this little cupboard out...
desperate to discover how one such as he could have entered
a place so high and completely enclosed
but no matter how many times I looked
(which was quite a lot)

I never did find a hole...


...So maybe he was magic after all.

©2009 www.aplace4sum.com