New Year's Eve

A short poem on talking animals on New Year's Eve

A cacophony with no precedence drifts inward
My deep slumber cut short by aberrant noise unheard
For most, the eve is for celebration of the year’s dying breath
For me, it’s another day towards my inevitable death

Lying in bed, I contemplate life and voices without
Sleep has departed, I might as well see what it’s all about
Shuffling my tired feet, I step out in to the biting cold
Hearing people talking of tales untold

Not a friendly man, my neighbor
But to him no ill will I harbor
Voices get louder as I near his barn
My shock as I enter I cannot even spin such a yarn

A conference unfolds in front of my eyes
Animals in deep conversation amidst sacks of rice
‘How can we help you?’ a dog politely asks
A cat and a lamb go about their tasks

Where there should be a neigh from the bay
Speech flow out of the lovely mare
I look in amazement as the chicken speaks
‘Please join us in our meeting,’ she squeaks

Dumbfounded, I walk to them in a trance
While the cow sings in a pure tenor and does a dance
‘What means this?’ I barely stammer
But my words are lost in the growing yammer

‘We always meet at the end of the year,’ the sow smilingly states
‘And only one human so special is allowed to see us before we rush to our fates’
I wonder why I am so special now
I get a pitying look from the cow

‘This only happens once for a human,’ they chortle
I feel welcome as they continue to chomp on the leaves that are mottled
They lead me out in a gentle column
Back to my house that looks so solemn

I enter my home in a daze and a haze
Not believing talking animals, my mind still ablaze
Walk to my bedroom unanswered question in my head
The truth dawns on me, as on the lonely cot I lie dead