Filler

A poem I wrote about my rats 🐀💕

Restraint, I need, on my best side

Watching the cage beside my door

Its tenants, whiskered, beady-eyed

Remind me please,

What are they for?

​

Each perfect ear, each arrow face,

The squeaks and sniffing I adore

Returns me to a tougher place

No sentiments.

Not what they’re for.

​

How did they get the sorry rep

That’s plagued their kind for years or more?

They’re a soft, endearing pet

But don’t go there,

Think what they’re for.

​

I want to kiss their little snouts

I want to stroke each tiny paw

Before the recap comes in shouts

D****t Linx,

Know what they’re for.

​

Sharp-boned heads, still somehow plush

Smoky-tinted fur galore

Can’t let it turn me into mush

They’re substitutes.

That’s what they’re for.

​

It pains me when the dog gets here,

Our pocket pals will get the door.

They soothed a common cross to bear

But only I

Knew they were more.

You’re not just filler in my eyes,

You’re not just tenants of a cage.

As pup becomes the new house prize,

My lap is yours at any stage.

Reviews

[R.E. Ray]

Your poem offers a fresh perspective on nature and her most feared and loathed creatures. It seems the bad reputations often come from literature and later movies. Think of Poe and the raven. Will that poor bird ever enjoy a good thought? The rat is much the same. Of course, some thoughts come from unsightly appearances, and we ascribe the worst things to the ugliest. Right? Horses can kill man and small animals, but we praise them. In the end, it's man who assigns good and bad labels to creatures (and other humans) without considering the deeper connections. I say "Filler" is a good write that forces us to change our perspective.

[Linxer]

Thanks RE 😊 Yeah, a lot of it is to do with perceptions. Creatures that aren't exactly cuddly are rebuffed. People will see a spider on the window and immediately want to kill it, even if it's a harmless barn spider that eats the annoying flies in your house. And when it comes to rats, people still associate them with the plague, despite it being the fleas on rats that caused that problem. All we can say is, at least people have a more open mind towards animals than they used to 🤔

[Coyote Poetry]

When I was young. I had pet rats. They are good pets. Very gentle and smart. I enjoyed the poem. I liked how you described the pets. Thank you Linxer for sharing the amazing poetry.
Coyote

[Linxer]

Thanks Coyote, I appreciate it 🙂 They are lovely pets. Did you know that they can't vomit? One of my rats gave me a scare recently because it sounded like she was choking on something. I freaked out and started thinking, how do you perform the Heimlich manoeuvre on a rat? They're such small animals, it wouldn't take a lot to crush them. But every website I visited told me to just leave her be - they apparently take a while to clear their throats, sometimes up to an hour. That was an enlightening day. Not very fun though! 😑

[Coyote Poetry]

I know. I had rats as pets when I was a child. You are welcome my friend.

[TV]

Great piece! A pleasant read compared to the abuse of pets by those who should love them here in the USA.

[Linxer]

Thank you very much :) I know, it sucks...I hope I never read a poem about that 🤨

[Gee]

Now I'll have Michael Jackson in my head all day singing " Ben"
Each to their own says I, my sister keeps tarantulas, me, I'm more conventional and have two hounds.
A good write.
Good morning

[Linxer]

Thank you! Ooh I love tarantulas! 🕸 I'd take one of those in a heartbeat, but we're not allowed to keep them as pets in New Zealand. The only tarantulas that exist here are the ones in zoos. Can see why others aren't crazy about them, though ;)

[barleygirl]

This poem feels nicely playful & quixotic, but there's a deeper underlying symbolism that kinda blows my socks off at the end. All thru the poem, I kept wondering what the title was about & then finally you spill it. I've been a "filler" many times in my life & it's not a good feeling. It's true that the most despised animals & humans can often have many endearing characteristics. Being a country person, I've never had a problem destroying pests, which come in from the wilderness in droves . . . but one time I trapped a skunk under my cabin & I was marveling at how cute it was & I didn't even realize it was turning around to spray me. I forgot to be afraid of it's prime weapon, becuz I was so enthralled by it's cuteness. I totally got that feeling between narrator & rat in your poem (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Linxer]

Oh that sucks! 🦨 Have you seen this video on YouTube? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vszWsYOdnPg A mountain biker encounters a mother skunk and her litter while trekking up a hill. You can hear him breathing so nervously! The sight of them would've been enchanting, but it's almost like coming across a poisonous snake. Amazing to see, but Jesus, don't touch it! Anyway, thank you for your awesome feedback, I appreciate it! And sorry to hear that you've been "filler" a few times, that's a drag. I don't know you, but you are valid, if that helps! ;)

[barleygirl]

HOLY GUACAMOLE! That's the best video I've seen in a year! Excellent share! Skunks are so cute, it's easy to forget they have this pesky weapon!

[Linxer]

No worries, glad you enjoyed it! They make a weird sound too. I'd never heard a skunk before I watched that video, and it certainly wasn't the sound I was expecting :)

[barleygirl]

I know what you mean! That amazing unexpected noise was half the fun of the video clip!

[Robert Trakofler]

I am so sorry dear Linxer I have a serious rat phobia... it is, a phobia! I own a vegetarian restaurant I do all of the local animal shelters fundraisers a complete animal nut but for the love of god I can't bring myself to even look at a rat:( once when I was 16 or so my sister had a pet rat and I mustered the courage to try and pet it and it bit me:( that was the end for me it sealed my phobia for life:/

[Linxer]

Ouch, sorry to hear that! 😬 My sister got kicked in the chest by a horse when she was six. She survived, fortunately, but she's never been on a pony ride since! Actually, I don't think that experience was helped by the woman who yelled at her afterwards for frightening the creature. There was my sister, moaning on the ground in agony, and this woman thought it an appropriate time to berate her! 🤨 Horses are seen as so majestic and beautiful, it's easy to forget that they can do serious damage. As is the case with many animals. Anyway, thanks a lot for reading and commenting on the poem, even if you're not a fan of the subject matter! All reception is helpful :)

[Pennywriter]

Feelings of compassion for a despised animals. Very nice effort.

[Linxer]

Thank you muchly! 😉

[emipoemi]

This has a fun progression and an intriguing aura that grips til the end. It's not afraid to be forebodingly creepy even though it's supposed to be endearing. Love the flow, the imagery, the message, the juicy sounds!! Absolutely amazing! Well done!

[Linxer]

Thank you so much! :) Like so many others, I'm having a lot of trouble finding a publisher at the moment, so seeing the words "absolutely amazing" is a special kind of thrill! It's nice to get support from fellow writers even if publishers aren't quite as obliging. Many thanks! :)

[emipoemi]

you're not the only one. I've been writing and striving to get work published for 11 years, and not having any luck at all. I was driven into self-publishing my debut collection (which is still not going places fast enough) because after years of rejections, some a-hole of a publisher proved my inklings to be true by admitting that he [and by extension all who had rejected me before] rejected me because I rhymed, which is discrimination in style (and the most hypocritical aspect is that he's known throughout the poetry community of my city as the champion of diversity - pure BS). So you're not alone in your predicament. I know quality when I see it, and I just wish I had a foot on the ground to help out everyone I've seen who's been given the short end of the stick. You keep doing you. When the time is right, your light will shine.

[Franky]

I like this write. I love all animals and I can sense you do too. This write has a flair to it. I couldn't predict the end but I liked it.

[Linxer]

Thank you very much 🙂 yeah it's a shame a lot of animals are pigeon-holed. A lot of people say, "Rodents spread diseases", but any animal can do that. Seems unfair to keep singling out rats, who are intelligent and friendly when properly cared for. As mine are 😉