Misplaced Care

At first glance I thought It was a toy, a ragged thing, perhaps dropped by a small boy. Lost or abandoned? Either way it was being trampled on today The pavement pushers, marching through the high street with shopping on their minds, they didn’t see it, Flat and grey, matching this abysmal rainy day Against the grain I knelt To rescue this sodden and forlorn, forgotten friend. Its edges revealed, I knew then It was not the frippery I had thought Lurching back, retching, I tumbled through legs, bags, Away from the abhorrence. I didn’t grieve it that dead rat I just left it there, all grey and flat.