The Fruit Stealer - July 12, 2026

I’ve always written to uplift,

un-sadden the world

and was never going to mention the rat with the snapped neck

as I pulled back the steel bar

that performed well last night

and dropped the fruit stealer

into a plastic bag for the trash

I will try not to envision

its partner or children left behind

or its last moments, if it had any

of them, feeling the life ebb away

so I’ll just end this with a soft toss

quietly leave the garage

gently close the door