And so, once again
I speak to you of the rat--
the bachelor rat--
who visits my garage.
He is a good rat,
even a fine one as rats go.
Never once has he lied to me
or tried to be anything
but what he is.
I feed him each evening
but tried to stop when the weather improved.
He came out and looked at me
as if to ask what had happened
and couldn't we overcome it?
I admire the rat.
He harbors no silent resentments.
He is who he is
all the time
and perhaps that is why he is alone.
I am alone also
and I am who I am, as the rat teaches.
I have a fine dog.
Many birds come to visit
and I feed this rat
rather than trying to kill him.
Goodnight, good sir.
I am grateful for your life
and my own.
___________
for Dverse Meeting the Bar.
Music: Leon Russell Stranger In A Strange Land