[Poem] Conversation Between a Cat, Raven and Pesky Rat

Day 19 #NaPoWriMo #GloPoWriMo I wrote a long piece of nonsense verse for this rather tough prompt. Prompt : The prompt for today is an imaginary conversation among the Cheshire Cat of Lewis Carroll, The Raven of Edgar Allen Poe and one of the pesky rats, of The Pied Piper of Hamelin, which refuses to be lured away by the Piper. The terrific threesome meet in the corona virus times and get talking. The conversation is to be embellished by the refrain of The answer is blowin’ in the wind. Once upon an afternoon dreary, while I sat in dread and weary,Over why I was given a prompt with denizens of the animal kingdom galore—My head drooped many a time, between napping and a prodded waking There came a tapping, or was it a cawing? a pinging nay a ringing on my Computer window.Did someone message me in messenger or is it a chatbot? I wondered.Slowly I came out of my stupor; I hesitated no longer,Hey, said I, whoever you are, your sensibilities I implore; The fact is I was napping, after a heavy luncheon and you came rapping, And so stridently you came tapping, tapping at my computer windowThat I scarce was sure I heard you I clicked on the tab. There was darkness there and nothing more. Then a raven hopped in. Oh for heaven’s sake stop imagining that you are PoeStop, spare us the woe. I come with a cat and a rat in tow So you think you could be Poe? Stealing his verse and changing a word or two? As I stared at the images jumping on my screen in puzzlement They unleashed a barrage of laments. We want justice! we want justice!Raven intonedWait where’s the placard? Rat did you forget? Stop telling tales of how I stole a vada from a poor old woman and was outwitted by a foxI want that story erased from records- he did seem quite indignant.And that silly story about dropping stones in a pot and letting water rise to the topI would simply fly off and find myself another pond.How silly can you get? Saying I spent time picking stones in my thirst. He sniggered. Yes Rat chimed in - what sort of rhyme is hickory dickory dock and me running up a clock? Hey you are a rat not a mouse butted in Cat grinning.It’s one and the same thing He’s a little thin and I’m a little fat No other difference apart from that. Noted said Cat. And what about the silly boy who pushed me down a well?And why would a stout boy be so kind?I climb and dance over walls and do you think I wouldn’t have gone at him with my claws? Me wait tamely to be drowned? Huh. Now children sing the rhyme without a shred of guilt. Rat nodded vigorously. What’s with you people and drowning? You talk of the Pied Piper of Hamlin How he dragged us all from out of holes and what not You think escape his music, we cannot? I care a rat’s — about music Mind your language butted in Cat. Anyway, what he did was to pull a trick Made people believe that he dragged us to the water’s brink While we stayed quarantined in our burrowsLike you are doing now with foreheads furrowed. We want justice! we want justice! Where do I come in in all this? How exactly do you think I can help? Are you not a poet? Poet guffawed the raven.It was a little nerve racking I saw her stealing from Poe.Cheater cheater pumpkin eater Rat shouted.So what do you want of a cheater? Go find someone else!  Cat put his hands in his pockets all business like Stop Rat we don’t get anywhere by calling names We want an apology and a redressal of sorts So write us a verse of apology for starts Teach your children the truth of our stories Righting the record of our distorted historie. I glared at them my patience wearing thinResisting their invasion of my privacy with chagrin I wanted to explain that I was paraphrasing Poe for a friendBut they were a force quite determined  Aren’t you a friend of Santosh, they mutteredMore of an acquaintance I stammeredWell she sent us and put you to this task Said you needed some inspiration oh hark! So saying they jumped off the screen.Their fingers jabbed my eyes I heard myself screamWhat a relief it was to find that it was only a day dream!I put my pen to paper in good intent. Now the answer is blowin’ in the wind!
Note: In Tamil Nadu children are told the tale of a crow which stole a vada from an old woman only to be outwitted by a fox.