The Nutcracker Suite chime announces the arrival
of the Christmas mouse.

No cousins here, nor extended family
The rabbits left a while ago and
no critters have come since the last cat
who graced every chair and left fur everywhere
Those pheromones would make
any discriminating mouse scat

Yet here she came just days before
skating across the floor
where the stockings hung with care
and while the lights blinked in the windows
both up and down the stair
and the trees stood trimmed
and wreaths doors adorned
As mulled wine steamed and warmed
and hot chocolate frothed ready--
in the grate even the fire roared steady--
the carolers were about to sing!
And she comes skittering!

From the basement door
across the hearth
a dark furry body scurries
and into view does hove
just missing my slippered feet
and slides beneath the stove!

We must accept and add to our ken
that we are the victims of
the plans of mice, not men.

—Ellen A. Wilkin