What happens…?

when the rat nibbles the bait in bites

gnawing away in bits, heart in mouth

stealing glances this way and that

pausing randomly in time with pounding heartbeat.

A daring move prods a strong bite and a mouthful…

The lever shifts!

The spring moves!

The rat stiffens!

Waiting for the inevitable blow…

but the rod holds still.

A fresh confidence moves two tiny paws

up onto the lever.

The rat leans forward, reaching out

to grasp firmly the sweet death meal.

The lever shifts!

The spring moves!

The rat stiffens!

Waiting for the inevitable blow…

but the rod holds still.

What happens…?

When the snake slithers and stops to stalk its prey

taking care for no noise to make

lest the rat a swift flight make.

With eyes sharp for long in use,

distance measured, momentum gauged.

A whet appetite makes two forked tongues

flick from lips pursed as if to expectorate.

The ugly head remains static as tubular prostrate body

coils, uncoils and coils soundlessly.

The body, now a spring, static

the head inches up, jaws parallel to ground

to get a better look. Still,

the rat nibbles at the bait in bites

gnawing away in bits

unaware of its double peril.

What happens…?

When with a last crunch and a little yank from

the weightless paws…

the bait is free from the lever,

the rat a trifle unbalanced from the tussle.

The lever shifts!

The spring moves!

The rat stiffens!

Waiting for the inevitable blow…

but the rod holds still.

The rat swallows the last bite

steals glances this way and that

and turns to go…

The snake is poised, the head rears back

flicking forked tongues go in and out,

mouth opening exposes fangs.

HISS!!!

The rat stiffens!

The smell of death is heavy.

The rat makes to go…

The trap is jostled!

The snake recoils and strikes!

The lever shifts!

The spring moves!

The rat LEAPS!

Not waiting for the final blow…

The rod gives away its taut load from long pressure.

In a kaleidoscopic petrified horror the rat watches

the snake in flight with furrows on its brow

darting in to make the kill…

The spring is in motion, vibrating with pent up potential

closing in for the kill…

In petrified horror the rat watches

the two killers close in…

the lever on one side, the snake on the other

and as if on cue, arrive same spot on time

merging into one pulpy mess

of metal, flesh, bone and blood.

The predator recoils on instinct too late

the prey is flung clear of the trap.