Feeding Time

My breath floats through the dancing beam of my flashlight. Footsteps, quick and light, mixed with excited panting of the four legged Friend beside me. A soft braying greets us from the darkness. Warm bottle in one hand, I set down the bucket That smells of sweet molasses to gather Corn which sounds like rain as it falls into the trough. Jumping the fence I flip a switch, shedding Full light on smiling faces for the first time Today. Happy bleating bounds toward me. Pushing through a menagerie of warm bodies, I move To deposit the old horse’s breakfast in his oversized bowl and then Turn my attention to the lamb who has been at my heels the whole time. I kneel down stroking her soft wool as she sucks down the formula Caving in the sides of the pink bottle. But my attention is in high demand. The barn cat complains that it is her turn And before long a long eared head, the size of my torso, Is nudging my shoulder... Smiling, I walk back in the early morning light.