Steinbeck's Poem

The poem starts talking about mice and how people chase them wanting to kill them. He is sorry to kill the mouse, he understands that the mouse needs a new source of food and a new home. He puts the mouse outside to endure a painful death. He says that he fears the future. This relates to the book because George does not want to kill Lennie but he knows he has to. George does not know what will happen without Lennie there.