Possum's Lament Poem by G J Lee

They’re back again
I hear them
Running on my roof
They could be racing now
Don’t laugh
It could easily be the truth.
Whoops!
I think one of them fell off
Splat!
He must have crashed
Cat like he may have been
But I think he’s lying smashed.

The race is over now
Could all be hanging head?
Looking at their friend
Who is completely dead?

Can I hear them say?
“Alas what dreadful fate
We must surely race right down
To farewell our faithful mate.

Sad possum
Now you’ve gone
You may well have won the race
But will your friends remember
The expression on your face

Or will they race again
Another winter’s night
Not remembering at all
Their sad companion’s plight
1997