Recombinant Rodents Ravage Manhattan

"We didn't expect this."
The scientist wipes beads
Of perspiration from his brow.

"We only wanted to use the mice
To produce copious amounts of
Human hemoglobin. But somehow,"

He glances fearfully out the window
As the sound of crunching
Becomes increasingly louder. "Somehow,

We coded for the human growth factor,
Instead," He scuttles out the door
Just before an overgrown snout

Thrusts through the window.
"Just an honest mistake.
We'll do better next time."

--Donna Dolezal Zelzer