My house was dark at three AM
As most of them would be;
I sought my kitchen for a snack
To sate the likes of me.

I noticed that the light was on
And heard a bit of sound;
I rushed into the room and gasped
In shock at what I found.

A stranger at my table sat
Before a dinner plate
That at one time contained a steak,
The same one that he ate.

I asked, “How did you get in here?
Don’t answer; just get out!”
He put a finger to his lips
And said, “No need to shout.

“It makes no difference how I came;
What matters is I’m here.
I brought my wife and children, too,
So I could have them near.

“You owe us hospitality,
Because we do the tasks
The rest of you don’t want to do
When anybody asks.”

I looked around and sure enough,
The kitchen sink was clean;
The other rooms were kept so well,
My house appeared pristine.

I told the stranger in my house,
“Appreciate, I might,
But you broke into my abode;
Does cleaning make it right?

“Demanding room and board from me…
Can this be justified
Considering you broke the law
And made your way inside?”

I left the stranger sitting there
And ventured to my bath;
Discovering his children there
Infused my heart with wrath.

I took a tour throughout my house,
Determined to repair
Each wall with crevasse, crack, and breach
That I might locate there.

When my defenses are secure,
I’ll take a while to rest,
Then figure out how best to treat
My uninvited guest.

© 2006 by Robert E. Blackwell