An Unexpected Surprise from Nature

Please excuse the picture but it is apt for the poem as Nature decided to play a prank on me last night and so, I thought I'd write about it. I have used limericks as I like their rhythm and they lend themselves to being read out aloud as well as being the most humorous of verse, in my opinion.

I read this to my kids and my mum - Mum laughed, kids tolerated it.

Let me know if you like it. Or if you don't.

*****

I really love Nature, I do,

The wonders it shows off to you

From flowers to creatures

With fabulous features;

Unrivalled delight it imbues.

***

Its surprises I like a lot less:

The ones that invoke massive stress

Like a wasp in the house

Or the rotten dead mouse

Or the leaves that hide sticky cat mess.

***

But Nature's a mischievous sprite

And brings her best tricks out at night

When you're feeling a yawn,

Or a little careworn

And don't bother to turn on the light.

***

And last night she hit with a joke

A brilliant comedic stroke!

An innocent foot

Into slipper was put -

Something squishy is given a poke.

***

Nature's gangster, the ultimate thug -

A juicy and slimy grey slug

Had crawled into the space

Where my foot had been placed

And was waiting there, silent and snug.

***

The contact of this on my toe

Made me queasy, I'd like you to know.

Its coldness and slime

Was hardly sublime,

The experience one to forgo.

***

The slug was surprised just like me,

Balled up to avoid being seen.

But it left it too late;

It was made to vacate

In a motion remarkably clean.

***

The slug was dispatched very fast.

I sincerely hope it's the last

Of encounters like this -

It's not something I'll miss

And must firmly be placed in the past.

***

I know slugs are nothing to fear

But the message's abundantly clear -

Always check where you put

Your bare exposed foot

To save toes from the slug's slimy smear.

***

Never leave a slipper unchecked.