It was a lovely day, br The hawthorn hedge br Was coming into bloom br And on the lawn br Just freshly mown br Something slowly moved. br br It was a rat br So old its fur was caked br With dirt, its skin br Was scaled with scabs br And on its back br Like something br br Pornographic or obscene br A tumour glistened. br It was the most br Disgusting thing br I’d ever seen. br It stumbled br br As it made its way br Across the grass. br It did not seem br To match the day, br The singing birds br Now busy with their broods, br br The butterflies br That fluttered in the sun. br This rat had had its day. br I tried to put myself br Into its head. br It could not see br br Or hear the birds, br It could not smell br And was in desperate pain. br The poor thing br Was trembling, br And lost. br br Have pity on this tortured soul, br It could be you or me.