House Mouse
(On a print by Sylvia Spencer Petrie )
Front view--Side view--Snap!
Mouse, you are in our trap.
The bodily mouse let go
fields back, dark woods ago,
you hang here on our wall
the house mouse spiritual.
Yet still these funnel ears
hear all that silence hears,
these round, moon-fashioned eyes
reflect each fear that flies,
and with a reckless flourish,
an existential courage
two tails of ink with flippant curve proclaim:
"House Mouse--That is my name!"
Copyright 2010-2012 Paul Petrie