To the fifteen mice

to the fifteen dead mice who

slipped silently through the

small gap behind the Kashi

cereal into the cabinet smelling

fresh peanut butter so innocently

wandering into the warmth

of this house where so many

mice have lived so comfortably

over many generations only

to find the final darkness

note to readers:  I hope as much as you that I have 

terminated (!?) all the mice for awhile.  This is an

annual fall event in this house.