Mad Sadie

"Cat", "almond milk", and "clock" lol

Clock’s Song

Once, there was a happy couple in their twilight years

they’d had their share of laughter, though they’d had their share of tears

their children all had grown and left their parents’ almond farm

but they were were happy all their children still were safe from harm

One son became a wizard, and the eldest went to school

the rest were less determined, but among them was no fool

though the farm was more or less abandoned in the end

they had saved more money than they had the time to spend

For at least a dozen years, the couple had a cat

who kept the homestead safe from every sneaky mouse and rat

the three of them together shared a love so wide and deep

but one day the old man passed on while smiling in his sleep

The man had been a well respected elder in the town

his hard work on the farm had earned the old man great renown

he was just the last of all his friends to pass away

and now his widowed wife was quite alone most every day

No more conversations by the fireside every night

they’d always shared a glass of almond milk, and all was right

now the widow shared a silent glass with her old cat

and couldn’t help lamenting it was silent where they sat

One day she walked into town to buy some eggs and cheese

noticing the red and orange colours in the trees

but as she wandered down the road, where none should be in sight

she saw a quaint old shop that must have sprouted overnight

She wandered in and saw that it was full of wondrous things

hats and books that read themselves, a tissue box that sings

a pretty girl appeared abruptly in a cloud of fire

claiming she knew just what the old lady would desire

“For a modest price, this clock will suit your needs quite well

it runs a little slow but it’s enchanted with a spell

at exactly midnight when you hear it start to chime

it’ll grant you any wish, but just for one day’s time”

The widow was intrigued and paid the witch a little gold

and then the shop just vanished, once the clock was thusly sold

she finished up her shopping then she went back to her house

pleased to see the cat had finished hunting one more mouse

After dinner she looked on in wonder at the clock

she’d found such a magic tool while on a simple walk

she wondered for a while what sort of wish she ought to make

maybe she could wish to share a nice, delicious cake

In the end, her thoughts would always bring her to her love

the man who now watched over her in peace from up above

but she could never bare to say goodbye to him once more

she’d meet him soon enough regardless of what she wished for

As she sat in silence she decided what she’d wish

right when she was pouring almond milk in the cat’s dish

“I’ll wish that you could talk and we’ll remember bygone days

I’m sure you have some stories of the old man’s silly ways”

And so when midnight struck and the old lady heard that chime

she found the words to wish her cat could talk, and just in time

they spent the whole next day exchanging countless happy tales

the cat recalled the man he knew and spared her no details

“Once when you were shopping, the old man had hatched a plan

he’d pick some flowers for you and he’d put them in a can

but when he brought them in he spilled some water on your dress

when you came back home, he went and blamed me for the mess”

The widow and the cat had talked and laughed into the night

even as the fire died, the old widows’s face was bright

midnight was approaching and the pair of old friends sighed

but still the cat looked just a little bit unsatisfied

“Tell me dear old cat, what is it that you wish to say

if you want more almond milk, I’ll get some right away”

with loving eyes the cat then spoke, before it was too late

“I really don’t like almond milk, but cow’s milk would be great”