The Levantines in legends say <br />There was a rat who turned away <br />From worldly cares and mortal strife <br />To live a holy hermit’s life. <br /> <br />His hermitage was a round Dutch cheese <br />On which he’d used his expertise <br />With tooth and claw to make a nest <br />Wherein to feast and take his rest. <br /> <br />This rat grew fat and rather stout <br />For God is good to souls devout. <br />One day there came a deputation <br />To this great soul, from the rattish nation <br /> <br />Seeking alms with which to bribe <br />An army of the feline tribe <br />Which was encamped around their city, <br />A cruel foe that would not pity <br /> <br />Their baby rats or much loved does. <br />“We’ll pay you back, God only knows! ” <br />The august person hummed and haw’d, <br />He said their case was truly hard <br /> <br />But his own funds, alas, were meant <br />To cushion his retirement— <br />Provision for a rainy day, <br />So his advice to them was: Pray <br /> <br />For heaven’s help in their sad plight <br />And God would surely set things right. <br />He blessed them all and then withdrew <br />Now that he’d told them what to do. <br /> <br />How would you rate this noble rat— <br />A Christian saint or a diplomat? <br />A Christian saint he could not be <br />For Christians preach charity.<br /><br />Pete Crowther<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-rat-that-withdrew-from-the-world-trans-de-la/
