All Their Kin & Kind

Would you believe
On Christmas Eve the bees
Retreat to hives & hum a hymn of peace

Collectively
Wiser by far than we are
Sidling up to bonfires as we freeze

The beasts of prey
& burden felt uncertain
When their trusted envoys brought the news

The stable’s glow
Rough shelter from the snow
Bestowed the voices beasts would never choose

Would you believe
On Christmas Eve the beasts
& all their kin acquire the power to speak
What will they say
That briefest midnight hour
Before that gift of language slips away

A lad & lass
Sentenced to midnight mass
Lock eyes beyond the congregation’s view

What more will pass
When, star-crossed, they’re divided
Just as time divided me from you

A bed of straw
The lad awakes in awe
The ox confiding sad complaints close by

& that’s not all
Beyond his humble stall
Once every century
Tall druid stones break free
To quench their boundless thirst down by the sea

Do you believe
On Christmas Eve the birds & beasts
Who watch in silence start to speak
What would you say
That briefest midnight hour
Before the gift of language fades away

Wild at heart
The tabby plays her part
Peace-loving party to a Christmas truce

As for the mice
Who trekked through snow & ice
What else besides her friendship could they lose?

Some say the doves
Perched on a beam above
Cooed all night long & calmed the child to sleep

Maybe it’s true
How well would you or I do
Bearing secrets we could never keep

Should we believe
On Christmas Eve the beasts
& all their kin acquire the power to speak
What will they say
That briefest midnight hour
Before that gift of language slips away

& to this day
All things that fly or swim or crawl or bray
Acquire the power to say
What’s on their mind
That briefest midnight hour
Before the gift of language leaves their kind