Dracupuss and Frankenmouse

All year, she is Miss Fluffykins -
a cat about the house
a year, he is their Munchkin Nose -
a timid, squeaking mouse

But once a year on Halloween
as lightning strikes and storms
Miss Fluffykins and Munchkin Nose
beneath the moon, transform

For one night she is Dracupuss
and he is Frankenmouse
On tip-toe, razor claws they creep
and sneak beyond the house

The fangs of Dracupuss, like scythes
shine sharp beneath the stars
The face and fur of Frankenmouse
all cut and slashed with scars

As zombie boys and ghoulish girls
with armless, harmless gore
demand their cookies, candies, sweets
at each and open door …

Unseen, the duo scurry in
between the children’s feet
for cat and mouse must slink inside
so they can Trick or Treat

They Trick or Treat the guinea pigs
The hamsters, budgies, dogs
They Trick or Treat the fish in bowls
The geckos, snakes and frogs

The pets afraid, they always Treat
Give everything they’ve got
And Dracupuss and Frankenmouse
They bag the blooming lot

November first, as dawn yawns wide
and nightmares all subside
Miss Fluffykins and Munchkin Nose
awake, confused, red-eyed

They wonder why surrounding them
are crickets, piles of seeds
two mini-castle ruins and
three diamante leads …

a swinging perch with bells attached
a giant bone, half-gnawed
a hamster wheel ‘round Fluffy’s neck
dried worms on every claw

“Oh dear, my dear friend Munchkin Nose,
How’d this all end up here?”
“I just don’t know Miss Fluffykins
It happens every year


Mark Bird