The rats tap out a message
Shredded paper and shadows
We are waving not drowning
Hold the stick
Swirl the text
All the letters a jumble
We place candles in a bowl
Shield the light
Soft peach sky
All is gone
A clean slate
We move slowly
Tap out our message
Soak in the bath
We wish for order and peace
What we get is very different
I hold the rats
Their tiny hearts beat
They are love
Nestled in my hair
A new day
A life of hope.
"Their tiny hearts beat." And you are their safe place, their caregiver. I love the beauty of that peach sky. And the freshness of the new day, and the hope, my friend.
ReplyDeleteIt made me smile to think of rats tapping out a message with a Sylvia Plath reference, and I like the sounds created in the line ‘Shredded paper and shadows’. I also like the ‘Soft peach sky’, Jae, and the rats’ tiny hearts beating, nestled in hair. Are they domesticated?
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful Jae knowing that you are a rat fancier and the love that is reciprocated between the two of you.
ReplyDeleteLove the beautiful images of a bowl of candles, soft peach sky, love in the beat of tiny hearts.
ReplyDeleteI usually don't think sweet when I think of rats, but there is something very gentle here, a sense of unconditional welcome.
ReplyDeleteAnyone who can embrace rats is far braver than I!
ReplyDeletefascinating and breath-taking poem - so many delicious layers and elements .... I'm held, spell bound in the images
ReplyDeleteLove how the rats can be bringers of hope.
ReplyDeletePhew! That is quite the "bowl"
ReplyDeleteZQ
Interesting poem, and tge 2nd in a row with rats in it. What's with the rats?
ReplyDeleteA new day - new hope! May this new year bring hope for all.
ReplyDeleteThe shredded and the shadows images i think of nature through different forms and activities. Nicely captured
ReplyDeleteHappy Sunday
Much💖💖💖love
Nicest ode to a rat I have ever read. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure your poem is wonderful but all I can picture now are rate. Eww I hate rats :)
ReplyDeleteWhile I’m sure you had a completely different idea in mind, I kept thinking about my country as I read this, especially when I came to the line - “We wish for order and peace. What we get is very different” and maybe the rats reference took me in that direction too. I loved it. As always, you take a gentle touch to the most incongruent subjects and it makes us look at them from a different perspective. My head feels likes rats are tapping out messages sometimes but I’ve never tried looking at it with love!
ReplyDelete