Dread!

I was filled with extreme dread -

I sensed a big rat under my bed!

Maybe I could give it some bread, 

It would behave better if well fed..

All sorts of thoughts sped thru' my head-

Surely it would be better off dead!

But what if a whole lot of blood it bled?

Suddenly I heard my wife's voice, it said, 

"Get up! The whole day lies ahead..

Stop dreaming and do some work instead -

Oh, what a nincompoop I have wed! "

The imaginary rat vanished in a trice, 

Dread disappeared and I became wise!