Tick tock, tick tock,

Sixty minutes left to go.

Two beady eyes open
In darkness. A furry nose
Twitches left, right, left.

Fifty-nine, time to dine.

Squeak, squeak-squeak!
Whiskers quiver. Midnight,
Wake up; it’s time to eat!

Fifty-five, the mice thrive.

A flurry of furry fuzzballs
Sweep across the carpet.
Quick, get the cheese!
Here a nibble, there a bite;
Store it in your mouth!

Forty-two, are you through?

Cheeks bulging, streaks
Of grey stream along the walls.
Fat little bodies merge
With dark shadows, slink
Into the mousehole.

Half past twelve,
                Half past twelve!

A lazy purr, now followed
By a hiss; run for your life!
Beneath the couch, past the TV,
Around the bookshelves:
Drop that cheese already!

Twenty-three, tragedy.

MREOWR--squeak!
Drops of blood; a bit of tail
Now gone forever. Small stains
Dot the carpet. Keep running,
You’re almost to the hole!

Seventeen, safe return.

Have more cheese! Time
To share! That cat sure
Gave us a frightful turn!

Five to go, bellies full.

Whew! Time to settle back
To sleep, good night, and
Tuck all tails in tight!

Silence fills the world of mice.
Tick tock, tick- DONG!