a mouse in the kitchen
but no chaos in the house

we coax the little guy into
a glass cup
and gently carry him out the door

down the steps

across the yard

to the cover of some brush

all the while i tenderly sing
‘it’s ok, baby, it’s ok, it’s ok.’

and if humanity has the capacity
to reassure creatures who don’t understand our language

can we try to speak a little more kindly to each other?