This poem was written by my mother, Alexandra Safar, in July of 1989. It was inspired by our pet rats, Molly Moonshadow (black with a white belly-stripe) and Ruby Starlight (an albino.) “Iole” is Hawaiian for “rat”.
Molly seized a peanut
And Ruby grabbed a grape;
Did they choose them for the color…Or the texture…Or the shape?Influenced by the nose perhaps?
I think not by the flavor–
For nothing tastes as good as what
One’s rival seems to savor!One quick nibble, a glance around,
Then Molly’s peanut hits the ground;
So instantly does Ruby’s fruit
And each now nabs the other’s loot.A taste, and then they seem to think,
“I must this moment get a drink!”
To water tube they leap and race
Tumbling blur of jet and lace
The winner’s drink does scarce begin
Before the loser elbows in.Then exhaustion seems to strike…
“A little nap is what I’d like.”
And though a roomy cage they’ve got,
They squabble over one small spot.But soon, piled up
Like Cookies’n’Cream
In sleep still competing…
For every sweet dream!
-Alexandra Safar, 7/??/89