On the Occasion of Having to Catch Some Mad Chipmunks that had Gotten into the House

The day before school
—This story begins—
I was getting ready for bed.
It was nine or so
And I was so tired
That I flopped to sleep in my clothes.
Then came a loud shout,
A screech of surprise
I jerked up and opened my eyes.
I walked to my door
And poked my head out
And saw my parents thunder by.
It seems that before
This evening began,
My cat had brought in some friends.
“Good lord,” chuckled I,
Chortling wickedly,
I watched, the drama unfolding.
My cat had captured
A chipmunk or two
And carried them into the house.
My dad scurried by,
A stewpot held high,
Trying to catch our furry friends.
It went on for hours,
My dad ran around,
Howling heart-felt four-letter words.
At last, at midnight,
There came a loud shout,
This time of glory and triumph.
The chipmunks had strayed
To the bathtub, it seems
And couldn’t scramble their way out.
My dad slammed the pot
Over the first chipmunk
And then briskly caught the other.
He flung them outside
With a furious cry
And snarled he was going to bed.