The Lott’ry Ticket

I bought a lott’ry ticket yesterday

And left it on my desk, to “scratch and win”

A fortune on the dawn, or so I’d pray,

And so my life would end and so begin.

I heard some creaks or cracks throughout the night

From downstairs where the lott’ry ticket waited,

But since the house is old, I felt no fright,

Though these were sounds that seemed newly created.

At dawn I brushed my teeth, then thought to eat,

And then I thought about my lott’ry dream,

So at my desk I took my nervous seat,

And, looking down, I heard a little scream.

I’d won all right; the proof was there, and stark:

Some other thing had scratched it in the dark.