Dead Rat on the Lawn: A Poem

 'Hey look Joy, there's a dead rat on the lawn!'
It looked kind of cute, lying flat on its back
With no sign on a painful death.

Next time I looked it had been moved across
the lawn with a bloody gash across its neck.
Had a cat got it?

Later that day a magpie was taking
a chunk out of it.
I would have to remove it at some point.

Next day, the rat had moved again and was swarming with flies.
No doubt I had to move it.

I summoned up the will.
An ant was crawling on it.
I picked it up by the tail.

Gloves and a bin bag cushioned me
Against the rat,
Which ended up in the wheelie bin.

If you see a dead rat on your lawn
My recommendation is
Remove it immediately!

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