journal no. 4

On A Friend Is Writing: Or, I Am a Tiny Little Rat

I am a tiny little rat

in a tiny little house.

Every morning I roll over

to drink from my dish of water,

and clean my little paws,

and pull the lever.


I have to pull the lever.

There is always something new when I pull the lever.


Sometimes the other rats will get hurt

when I pull the lever.

But pulling it makes me feel so good!

A zip-zap electric shock down my furry body

the best and most wonderful emotion

and then yes, it hurts me, very much.

But I don't mind.


Every morning I roll over

to pull the lever.