Pre-Death Anxiety

In the hurried fleeting last thoughts of the mouse
Does it think it's impending death
will be an action of swift mercy
or suspect the prolonged play of the evil cat?

The first swipe hurts and injures but fails
to release the rodent from it's short nervous life.
The feline slides up to the panting bleeding thing
slow, with eyes narrowed and claws extended.

"Perhaps," thinks the frightened and damaged small life,
"There is a way out of this yet".
But the cat strikes it again inflicting further trauma.
"Not looking good" crosses it's panicked mind.

The mouse's tail is held down by the heavy paw of the cat.
The frail feet slide frantically on the ground.
A large mouth closes over the whole body but not a fatal bite.
Confused, the fading mouse ponders it's place in the universe.

In the end does the victim forgive it's transgressor?
As the tiny soul prepares to fly from the corpse
Is it at peace as the cat shears the head off
to leave on the doorstep of it's dwelling?