Uprooted from sleep,
sprung from bed in mid-night
to sounds of scratching
in the bathroom.

Reminded of thin walls,
plastic boxes- drywall.
Opossoms beneath the tub,
begging for entry, warmth.

When other animals
stray cats
find the hole in the side
of the foundation,

They are confronted with
beady eyes,
ratlike face and tail,
and sharp claws.

That is what wakes me
in the early hours,
fighting, vicious fighting
under our bathroom floor.

Foreign screams and hollow cries-
a wild frenzy.
In the morning, I wake
and put my pants on,
by then, the fray has subsided.