Trap

How could it be so stupid?
Scampering across the cluttered yard
One journey, one brazen act of carelessness
Sealing its fate.

Once sighted, plans were made.
Cruel teeth were set with tasty treats
Enticing sniffing noses to come a-nibbling.

The teeth are smiling
Their gleaming steel jaws are hungry for flesh.
Ah, opportunity is here.
A dark furry snout, twitching and quivering
Emerging from under a nearby shed.
It is wary now - not venturing out any further
Still twitching, quivering
Its bright berry eyes scanning for danger.

Twitch, quiver
Twitch, quiver
The constant movement annoys the teeth,
The signs of life anger the metal.
It groans and aches
Longing for that twitching, quivering flesh to soon be still.
The jaws are driven mad with hunger
Waiting, yearning
For that warm rich snap
And for the movement to stop.

Bouncing along, the rat is hungry.
Spies the morsel
A chunk of cake, fatted and wholesome
Hooked enticingly.
Twitch, quiver
Smells the goodness.
The sight of food blocks out its wariness
It is blinkered by the invitation.

Bouncing along, the rat is happy.
It has found food at last
Nestling in those metallic teeth that shine so brightly.
Fur rippling with pleasure
It hops right up to the scrap of invitation.
Pauses momentarily to groom its leathery ears
Then reaches - and bites.

No more hunger for our bouncing rat
No more scamper
No more twitch
No more hunger.
One final quiver of those long, long whiskers, then
No more quiver.

And as the last movement slips into oblivion, the teeth seem to sigh.
Sighing in relief
No more movement, the flesh has become still.
And the teeth are happy
The metal radiant in the sun.