We set the trap tonight. Peanut
butter under the hook, kill bar (yes, we read
that right) pushed down, lever notched
and ready. We’re waiting. I’ll dream of it
pushing along the wall tonight, nose forward
seeing its way along the darkness, finding
that pure pleasure just before the snap,
the deeper darkness sudden as a rogue wave.
Gradually I’ll wake up in the morning, I’m
sure, not knowing how close I was myself
to death, the same as the rat, the same as
any of us, nosing along, thinking of something else.
butter under the hook, kill bar (yes, we read
that right) pushed down, lever notched
and ready. We’re waiting. I’ll dream of it
pushing along the wall tonight, nose forward
seeing its way along the darkness, finding
that pure pleasure just before the snap,
the deeper darkness sudden as a rogue wave.
Gradually I’ll wake up in the morning, I’m
sure, not knowing how close I was myself
to death, the same as the rat, the same as
any of us, nosing along, thinking of something else.