"ODE TO A
DORMOUSE"
So quietly he sat in his dark cardboard house
That very few knew of this little dormouse.
Yet his presence was felt by all who knew him
And faithfully we'd fill his little bowl to the rim.
Little evidence seen of his lonely little being
Cept nutshells and crumbs hardly worth seeing.
His bonded mate was sadly lost years ago
As she lept off a hand and scadaddled to go.
Days and days passed yet he still lingered on
His eyesight long gone, a blue tinge they did don.
I pondered with amazement as he stayed in my mind
Could he be the longest living seen of his kind?
His tiny cage took up a lone shelf at the wall
And some even wondered if he would ever die at all.
I checked on him daily and poked him to see
Would he move today or would he cease to be?
I was pleasantly surprised and grinned each instance
He moved and looked irritated at every disturbance.
The basement it held such a chill yesterday
I lifted his house and searched for the gray.
He was weak and cool and slow to move
The day was approaching he had no more to prove.
I sliced up pear and gave him a sliver
And hoped his last meal would help ease the shiver.
That sliver of pear was his favorite weekly treat
He would nibble the center and lap the nectar so sweet.
I left him alone to spend time with this meal
I knew this would be the last time he would feel.
Hours passed and I checked on him and his pear
He had gobbled it up and now lay dead in his lair.
Once a spry critter with a famed fiesty bite
It had been too many years since he showed his might.
His eleven years of life is peacefully behind
A record of loving care we bestowed on his kind.
I can see him right now as he scampers and plays
His mate now beside him as was in the old days.
Linda LaFrentz
903-389-5339
mailto:critterhouse@hotmail.com
