[POETRY]

[08/11/2026]

I Watch Him, Watching Me

By Billie J Daniel

My pet rat Frankie
will only sit in the palm of my hand
if I have something for him to eat.

Nibbling away at a meal worm,
he forgets he’s there.

I know when he’s done,
he’ll look at me all confused,
as if he were questioning how
he got to be in the palm of my hand.

Rats see people as blurred shapes,
So I make gentle, calming sounds
to let him know I’m not a predator.

For a moment,
I watch him
watching me.

then I hold my breath,
keep my hands still,
maybe this time
he’ll want to stay.

BILLIE J DANIEL is a writer, artist and educator based in London, from a working-class background. He graduated from Central Saint Martins with a degree in Fine Art. In his time away from writing, he likes to go birding with his partner, play video games with his friends, and analyse his favourite sport, boxing. His poems explore ideas of love, connection, anxiety, and trauma, and have been published or are forthcoming in HAD, The Bulb Region, BULL, Maudlin House and others. His debut pamphlet, Your Life An Event That Has Already Happened is coming out with Shadow & Sax Press in 2026. Discover more at his website www.billiejdaniel.com and on Instagram @billiejdaniel