a poem for marvin

oh marvin, oh marvin, you're just a little mouse
it was too cold outside, so you came into our house
looking for some food, looking for a bed
you probably didn't know
where the journey would head

when i saw you
in love i fell
around your small neck,
i envisioned a bell

there was a connection
when at each other we gazed
you nibbling at our cabinet and pooping
me at your cuteness amazed

i said you could stay
barry said you must go
when he asked if i wanted you to snuggle me in bed
... i had to say no

i begged barry to capture you humanely
to which he said, "you must be kidding"
to which i said, "but I love him. his name is marvin"
to which he said, "how can you love him, you hardly know him"
to which i said, "i loved you when i hardly knew you!"
to which he said, "well, how do you anticipate we capture him?"
and i said, "you move the refrigerator and I'll catch him inside this pot"
to which he said, "you're crazy. you can't capture a mouse inside a pot."

then i ran upstairs crying while the mean man set traps

i told you to run
i told you to hide
i yelled, "marvin, stay away from the cream cheese with chives"

i thought you heard me
i thought you knew
but early this morning,
i became very blue

the mean man he told me
that you met your maker
i felt so very sad
it was a heart-breaker

but there's more to the story
and it isn't folklore
there is hope and joy
where you might expect gore

barry said he was nearby
when the trap snapped
but instead of being smushed
you laid nearby, un-scratched

quiet and still
obviously talented at faking
you snapped the trap craftily
for a great escape you were making

when you heard my warnings
you constructed a plan
it was risky but smart
to trick the mean man

you needed to get out
but couldn't find the way you came in
a new route would be taken
escorted by him

it's not until later
that it all became clear
when to say my goodbye
with my eyes filled with tears

that we went into the yard
and nothing was there
no little mouse body
not like i had feared

where barry had put you
the grass was all clear
kind of like jesus
from the cave disappeared

so my friend marvin
while it's possible you were eaten by a cat
i know you too well
and i don't believe that

what really happened
once the charade was over
is that you squeaked a farewell
and ran to a field full of clover

happy travels, my friend