Soft, velvety pelts of grey and white,

brown and black and ginger patches.

Sharp kitten claws like tiny daggers

digging into your shoulders affectionately

as they cuddle.

Portrayed as disease-bearing,

sewer-scuttling

ransacking rodents,

but what a fancy rat really wants to do

is gnaw apple slices and play

with no need to run away,

to hunt for or be

prey.