Lonely Rodents

[marnanel]

Once upon a time, ten whole years ago, Sath started a mailing list called the Lonely Rodents Club, wherein every member was given the persona of a rodent. It made more sense at the time.

I was inspired (unasked and impromptu) to write the club song, which I posted to the list. It goes to Lux eoi.

What is that which, small and furry,
Races lonely round the rug?
What can move so fast and blurry
Desperate for a rodent hug?
For, if you should search in Barnsley,
Search in Brighton or Berlin,
There, the lines of lonely rodents
Find a home for hugging in.

Hark! the sound of hopeful squeaking
All the rodent world around,
No-one hearing shrinks from seeking
For the joyful squeaking sound,
For, if you should search in Norwich,
Search in Newport or New York,
Lonely Rodents must come running
Just to squeak and hug and talk.

Dormice, Guinea-Pigs united!
Rats and Capybaras all!
Squirrels, even, have been sighted
At the Rodents' Hugging Call!
For, if you should search in Romford,
Search in Rochester or Rome,
Somewhere near, a Lonely Rodent
Will have made its Rodent Home.

(Random addendum: Chesterton's Song of Right and Wrong, which is appallingly racist in its later verses, has a first verse that always fits Lux eoi in my head as well:

 

Feast on wine or fast on water
And your honour shall stand sure,
God Almighty's son and daughter
He the valiant, she the pure;
If an angel out of heaven
Brings you other things to drink,
Thank him for his kind attentions,
Go and pour them down the sink.)