My Last New Year's Eve Party Poem by Tex T Sarnie

I recently moved home to reflect my economic situation,
and my neighbours asked me to their New Year celebration.
I didn't know anyone, so I just mingled for a while,
introducing myself and trying hard to smile.

The guests were not the most sociable people that I had ever met,
I guess I was the stranger and they weren't ready for me yet.
Purposely preoccupied, they avoided looking me directly in the eye,
behaving as though I had the plague and they were about to die.

The background music was depressing and very low-key,
on the dreary eerie side, and it did nothing for me.
When I asked about changing the music to a happier kind of mood
I received stares and glares, which I thought extremely rude.

I was made to feel unwelcome and wished that I had gone elsewhere,
and began thinking of an excuse to get the hell out of there.
A young woman approached me and said, "It's much too early yet! "
"For what? " I said. "Why, for leaving with regret."

"What gives you the impression that I want to leave, " I said.
"It's written all over your face and it's so easily read.
You look like a lost soul and completely bored out of your mind,
you dislike the music, and the conversation is the wrong kind."

"You're not wrong there, but do you actually know any of the guests here? '
"Not really, I only arrived in this area in the November of this year."
"I suppose nearly everyone here is either a neighbour or lives nearby? "
"I think so, but some seem to arrive and then go in the blink of an eye."

"What do you think of the wonderful music and the people here tonight? "
"Well, I've heard happier laments and the people are a depressing sight."
"I agree, I've had happier times at some funerals I've attended recently."
"Ah, when I first arrived, I thought it was a black-tie or gothic party."

"I know, it takes all types of people to make up the human race,
but it seems like this lot all come from the same depressing place."
"Do you think that we're about to become indoctrinated into a sect? "
"What at midnight? We'll have to wait and see what happens next."

"So you are going to stay until the end of the midnight chimes then? "
"Well, I am intrigued, but I imagine we'll all return to normality again."
We continued to talk and made fun of this bizarre New Year's Eve celebration,
as we laughed and danced to the laments in a line dancing formation.

Anticipation filled the air, but at the first chime of midnight, the music ceased.
All the lights flashed off and on, and black balloons were released.
With each chime, a grey dullness took place with a mysterious translucence,
and by the last chime, the house and everyone faded into non-existence.