April 6 - Rats

She sat and prayed for healing
of her friend's mother. The tongue
detected the scurrying of rats
on the roof, feeling
but not understanding
the language, wanting to seek
a glimpse of the loner
among the group a hundred mile away.


She jumped
up to check for burglars,
the rats trying to escape
the body once holy, to seek
the santuary of their king's lair.
Silence.
The rats sniffed her out;
then on lighter feet to fool her,
they tried to slip out of her prayers.
Silence again,
forever.


When dawn arrives she will know.
The pain is gone.