Ratskeller

by Bob Dougherty
​ 
there may be a place in this world for them 
but I don’t want them around me 
wouldn’t eat in a restaurant
that tolerated them   at all 
trouble is   they’re everywhere 
they are rats and breed like crazy
spread all kinds of diseases
they’ve invaded our cities and farm country
but never thought — my neighborhood 
you do what you can to protect
your home — you know 
but the town — doesn’t do anything

then last week it happened
I knew one got under my house
I could literally smell that rat 
well   ya gotta do what cha gotta do
I grabbed what I needed
and climbed down in the cellar
followed my nose and trail of clues
found that rat lying by a hot air duct
dead   nothing gory   just a mummified rat
I couldn’t help thinking about
all his comings and goings down in the cellar
and how he never really bothered me   at all 
well   ya gotta do what cha gotta do
the world’s sure a different place
down in the cellar