‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds
With no thought of the dog filling their heads.
And ma in her kerchief, and I in my cap,
Knew he was cold but didn’t care about that.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Figuring he was free of his chain and into the trash.

The moon on the crest of the new fallen snow
Gave the luster of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But Santa Claus – and his eyes full of tears.

He unchained the dog once so lively and quick,
Last years Christmas present, now painfully thin and sick.
More rapid than eagles he called the dogs name.
And the dog ran to him, despite all his pain.

“Now DASHER!

Now DANCER!

        Now PRANCER and VIXEN!!
On COMET!

     On CUPID!

        On DONNER and BLITZEN!!

To the top of the porch!  To the top of the wall!
Let’s find this dog a home where he’s loved by all”

 I knew in an instant there would be no gifts this year
For Santa Claus had made one thing quite clear …

The gift of a dog is not just for a season.
We had gotten the pup for all the wrong reasons.

In our haste to think of the kids a gift
There was one important thing that we missed.

A dog should be family and cared for the same.
You don’t give a gift then put it on a chain.

And I heard him exclaim as he rode out of sight,
“You weren’t given a gift!  You were given a life!”

Stacey Vincent