The Great Race

In lore, ancient China’s Jade Emperor hosted
A race for all critters within his domain.
The first twelve to finish would garner the honor
Of years in the zodiac bearing their name.

The end of the race involved crossing a river.
The ox took his buddy the rat for a ride.
The rat then hopped off to place first with the ox
A close second. Their friendship regardless abides.

You’d think that the dragon would fly to first place,
But it stopped to make rain for a village in drought,
Then blew on a log for a rabbit to ride
Into fourth, with the tiger just beating it out.

The horse didn’t notice the snake wrapped around
A front hoof till it reached the home (literal) stretch.
The sight of the snake shocked the horse, who would settle
For seventh. And I thought the rat was a wretch.

The monkey, the sheep, and the rooster teamed up.
In some tellings, they somehow acquired a raft.
The sheep came in eighth place, the monkey in ninth,
And the rooster in tenth. Did he sit at the aft?

Eleventh place went to the dog, who took time
For a bath in the river. And lastly, the pig
Had stopped for some food and a nap, but at least
It completed the dozen. The honor was big.