Time Waits For No Rat

 
On days when the sky is crystalline blue,
Rats crawl from the sewer to take in the view;
To sniff the fresh air, catch downdrafts of cheese
Or whatever food might get caught on the breeze.
 
We scamper about right here on the ground,
And dart place to place, not making a sound,
Going here, going there, and collecting some food
That we may take home and provide for our brood.
 
We enjoy all the sights, we adore all the smells
That waft from the dumpsters of many hotels
And restaurants galore, we take in them all
Even the stuff from food courts at the mall.
 
But here in the midst of all our rat racing
We stop for a moment; we pause from our chasing,
To relish the air and the weather so grand:
A halt is in order, a savor at hand.
 
A halt not too long, I caution you though,
For sometimes a cat will come ’round, you know,
He’ll sniff and he’ll stalk, he sees you as bait:
He’s not after cheese – you’re what’s on his plate!
 
And the rat that’s too slow: well, things are not good
Not paying attention, even though he well should,
The cat, clad in black, his puffed fur announces
You’ll be caught in his claws as soon as he pounces.
 
So be quick! Do enjoy the beautiful clime,
But beware the cat, and remember this rhyme
To make sure you don’t become the cat food
That the cat will take home to provide for his brood.
 
For on days when the sky is crystalline blue
And rats crawl from the sewer to take in the view,
One’s got to be wary, quicker than that black cat,
For you may rest assured, time waits for no rat.
 
Keepin’ it squeak,
Bob