City Rats

Very little skeeves me out More than a city rat. Seeing one can spoil my mood (Snap fingers) – just like that! A sighting often can be found Down on the subway tracks And spotting one precipitates Some skeeviness attacks. Unfortunately, they are smart For in that tiny brain, The city rat somehow avoids A smushing by the train!

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Andrea Dietrich

Date: 5/13/2019 3:02:00 PM

they are truly smart and adaptable. Love your little poem and how you made use of that interesting word, skeeviness.

Ilene Bauer
Date: 5/13/2019 4:14:00 PM

Thanks, Andrea! It's always so nice to hear from you...

Maurice Rigoler

Date: 5/13/2019 2:20:00 PM

I grew up with rats on my grandparent's dilapidated farm. Some were big as house cats and could take down a whole chicken! Is "skeeves" American or of some other language? First time I see it. / M

Ilene Bauer
Date: 5/13/2019 4:09:00 PM

Hey Maurice! I think it may be a colloquialism - I grew up with that word but realize that many non-New Yorkers are not familiar with it.

Jan Allison

Date: 5/11/2019 5:22:00 PM

yeuk they are vile creatures Ilene, in the IOM the word isn't said they are called 'long tails' or joeys or ringies, Am finally back home as hubby has had a week of treatment in the UK... another 5 1/2 weeks to go. I've had little or no time for soup or comments as internet time has been precious little:-( hugs jan xx

Ilene Bauer
Date: 5/13/2019 4:13:00 PM

I never heard those terms for them, but they deserve every awful nickname one can think of. Hope your husband's treatment goes well, Jan...