The Rat
The Rat appeared on the bird table; outside the kitchen window. Only yesterday I had pointed out two Robin Redbreasts there; I was far too slow though with the camera.
Bang : in the car !! Seaside. Hardware store. Rat trap in hand , I am making my way home. It was only much later, my wife lying in agony, not knowing how to get through the day, she cannot bear much more, that I thought about all those families.
It was a Sunday A dad with his kids discussing football. This couple, arm in arm hurrying to the pub , someone saying oh look there's a fire in there. Sunday lunch time smell. Passing the restaurant window by myself. Gulls and the tang of salt.
The darkened room, my wife, the silence, the pain.
I was thinking about how I take it for granted now; all the losses, all the Sundays we miss out on; what others call normal life.
What we call survival, coping, drenched in tears.
Intense anger welled up in me.
There's more than rats outside my window.
I am dealing with it !
Bang : in the car !! Seaside. Hardware store. Rat trap in hand , I am making my way home. It was only much later, my wife lying in agony, not knowing how to get through the day, she cannot bear much more, that I thought about all those families.
It was a Sunday A dad with his kids discussing football. This couple, arm in arm hurrying to the pub , someone saying oh look there's a fire in there. Sunday lunch time smell. Passing the restaurant window by myself. Gulls and the tang of salt.
The darkened room, my wife, the silence, the pain.
I was thinking about how I take it for granted now; all the losses, all the Sundays we miss out on; what others call normal life.
What we call survival, coping, drenched in tears.
Intense anger welled up in me.
There's more than rats outside my window.
I am dealing with it !
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