Hope gnawed at my heart like a hungry rat, Ran in and out of my dreams high-walled, I heard its scampering feet: "Pretty rat -- pretty rat --!" I called, And crumbled it songs to eat. Hope peeped at me from behind my dreams, Nibbled the crumbs of my melodies, Grew tame and sleek and fat; Oh but my heart knew ease To feel the teeth of my rat! Then came a night -- and then a day -- I heard soft feet that scuttled away -- Rats leave the sinking ship, they say. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...UNDER THE SHADE OF THE TREES [MAY 10, 1863] by MARGARET JUNKIN PRESTON RIVALRY IN LOVE by WILLIAM WALSH (1663-1707) A SCENE ON THE BANKS OF THE HUDSON by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT ADOWN WINDING NITH by ROBERT BURNS THE FISHERMAN'S WIFE by ALICE CARY |