THE BRUSH-TAILED POSSUM

(A well-known animal in both the city and the bush, the brush-tailed possum
makes its presence felt, wherever it lives!)

The beauty of this creature
Is his one redeeming feature,
For he's not my favourite animal today.
He is really very pretty,
So I feel it's quite a pity
He behaves in such an antisocial way.

He's asleep throughout the daylight,
But once the greying twilight
Has dulled the evening sunset, he's awake.
And to our house he wanders,
Then pauses as he ponders
On what infernal mischief he can make!

And I find my anger rising,
Which is really not surprising,
For another possum's joined him overhead!
And the noise they make is frightful,
So no hope of sleep delightful,
I grab my torch and stagger from my bed.

It's a never-ending battle,
For we often hear the rattle
Of possums scrambling on the roof at night.
Though we're fond of native creatures,
You'll find no possum features
As a favourite - yet they are a pretty sight!

-Philip R Rush