Photo of Brown Sugar by EPG





Christopher Mulrooney
 

poetry, fiction, translations & photographs in Combo, Quarterly Literary Review of 
Singapore, Janus Head, Savoy, Renditions, Retort, etc.

 

author of notebook and sheaves

 

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town mouse country mouse
 


once upon a time 

a country mouse took home to his hole 
a city mouse of old acquaintance 
he a rough and ready type and thrifty 
though he liked a pleasant feast well 
he took out from his store of grain 
and raisins a small side of bacon 
for a banquet to regale his urbane guest 
who hardly put each morsel in his mouth 
whereas mine host reclining on fresh straw 
ate raw grain and left the best for company 
the town mouse said look here 
why tarry on the wide edge of the world 
come with me from the forest into town 
where life is really now come on 
we none of us can live forever 
and all of us must perish soon or late 
so come on now enjoy your fill 
and don't forget your time is short 

the country mouse listened and left home 
and so they traveled to the city 
entering the city wall by night 
and in the middle of the night 
they came into a mansion upholstered 
scarlet on divans made of ivory 
with basketfuls of leftovers 
from a feast held the evening before 
the town mouse put his friend at ease and went 
about like a servant tending table 
course on course and tasting like a watchman
everything he put down first 
the visitor was lolling in good hap 
and savoring the hospitality 
when doors burst open and they ran 
right down the hall as scared as 
hell to hear the big dogs howling 
in the house the country mouse said 
not for me farewell my forest hole 
is safe and I won't starve on grain 


after Niall Rudd's Horace 


copyright Christopher Mulrooney