Lullaby

The minstrel and his cat

sat in the full moon's light

singing songs and drinking tea

while an angel swooped down from Heaven

and passionately kissed a mermaid

on a shore of the Caribbean Sea.

A white-haired gent in a pointed hat

built a slipshod spaceship

and flew it right into a black hole.

His bearded and bespectacled brother

put on a top hat and tuxedo

and took his pet alligator for a stroll.

An octopus leapt out of my coffee.

He said, "Good evening!" and bowed,

then did a tap dance on my tablecloth.

The woman from the house next door

played a harp on her front lawn

before she transformed into a Luna moth.

A purple walrus climbed up a tree

and sang an ancient sea shanty

while perched on the highest branch.

A pink jackalope came to my door

and asked me if I knew the way

to the nearest cattle ranch.

A street performer on the corner

transmogrified into a glowing liquid

and evanesced into the darkening sky.

I went out to say good night

to all the hooting owls

as the moon winked out like a sleepy eye. - Jeff Barnes