A woman goes off to the store

Leaving a mongoose in command.

Her pet was loyal evermore,

So it watched her baby as planned.

Whilst she was gone, a snake crawled in

The mongoose fought a long, fierce fight

Alas! The mongoose broke its skin

The snake died, to the pet’s delight.

When the woman returned, she screamed

Across the mongoose’s lips was red

She threw a pot, and its head gleamed

Her loyal pet mongoose fell dead.

With the blood on its lips, she thought

“The mongoose has killed my baby.”

But a new sight left her distraught - 

A dead snake and babe laid safely.

Oh, why did she act so quickly?

Remorse filled and tears flowed down smooth.

Her dead pet’s head was all sticky;

Nothing could make the woman soothe.

Her world up in flames,

One lesson remains,

A pet gone to waste;

Do not act in haste.