The Compost Mouse

Hello! I am the Compost Mouse.
I used to have a little house
inside a wooden compost bin,
the type some folks put food scraps in.

For months or more, I’d had to roam,
until I found my lovely home,
a place to chat with fly and flea,
and maybe raise a family!

The floors were fungi – what a treat!
The walls were peelings I could eat –
potato, carrot. And my bed
was freshly made from mouldy bread.

I had crushed eggshell ceilings too –
so smart! I often cheered, “Woo-hoo!”
until my roof was raised – Crrr-eak! –
and someone gave a fearful shriek!

Next thing I knew, there came a cat!
“Yee-ow, yee-ow!” it howled. And that
was that – I had to run away
and find a safer place to stay.

Now I’ve a big house just next door,
with stronger walls and fungus floor –
and, deepest in the compost heap,
my twelve dear babies, sound asleep!