COMEDY Poem: Jerry, by Ashley Patrice

The recent hospitality arouses Mouse.
For two days, the sweet aroma of
chocolate chip cookies welcome him
and the morning cheese tells him to stay.

Day and night–cookie crumbs, cookies
when humans aren’t looking, and so much
cheese! The powerful stench fills his nostrils.
Teal tints the ten o’clock sky. “One last cookie

before bed”, Mouse thinks. Warm milk, a sugar
coma, and a slice of breakfast cheese follow.
After moments of shuffling and clicking,
Mouse’s quest is fulfilled. His sugar coma

is shortened by the flickering light. “Is God
casting His finger over the moon?” Mouse
thinks. Groggy, Mouse wipes the slumber
from his eyes, mixing cookie crumbs

and eye boogers in the process. The flickering
blackened, Mouse decides it’s breakfast time.
Rolling out of bed with an already full stomach,
his eyes gleam at the silver platter. Cheese-filled

coffins wait for Mouse’s next quest. The clicking
turns out to be traps made for Mouse. Enticed
with the cheese, Mouse minds the metal hug
itching to squish him. Reaching for the cheese,

he squeaks like Mariah Carey until his mouth
tastes metallic. If you give a mouse a cookie,
seduce it with gluttony and affection,
your house will stay rodent-free.