I see
green guts
as spiraled
and as splattered
as an artist's paint canvas.

A fragile body torn,
sliced harshly
through the middle,
limp tail still intact.

Smell the rotting carcass,
on the gritty asphalt.
A desire, a want, a wish.
It burns – flames that demolish a house.
A want to look inside,
explore the remains,
dissect the miniscule being.

Innards shockingly
discolored.
Not red organs and blood,
but mucus green
and an electric blue.

Grotesque,
yet intriguing.

This ill-fated creature
could not escape
the inevitable,
whispered cries
were yearned to be heard.
Too small, too meek,
too feeble,
to evade destiny.

Silent questions,
curious what happened.
Mauled by a fisher?
Butchered by our cat?
A mystery.

I stare on
stiffened by its rigid body,
as sad as a lost loved one.
Feeling of wonder,
lacking an explanation.

But perhaps
certain tales
should be left
untold.
Like this
one dead mouse
on the side of the road.