A Poem Unrequested

The mice knew first, the crickets and the small
Wrens, who muted their music in respect.

The Bigguns had no reason to expect
A coming, first or second, so they all

Went to the circus, laundry, or the mall,

To buy some smoke detectors could detect.

And then they bought a family to protect.

The beetles sang, We shan't shut up till Fall.

Somewhere the news was posted. In a paper

Of general circulation, someone read:

Death shall have no dominion, being dead;

But he was only someone, not a shaper

Of big opinion. Big opinion heard

Interruption and said, Shut up that bird.