'Twas the night before Christmas (1)

Twas the night before Christmas
I've found many canine versions of this Holiday classic – here one of the variants.

*****

 

And all through the crates

Not a Dalmatian was stirring

Not even for bait.

The puppies were nestled

All snug in their beds

While visions of biscuits

Danced in their heads

 

The stockings were hung

By the fireplace of stone

In hopes they'd be filled

With rawhide and bones

 

Ma in her nightshirt

And I in my robe

Had just settled down

By the ol' woodstove

When out on the lawn

There arose such a commotion

I sprang from my chair

To see why the dogs weren't in motion

 

Away to the window

I ran like a deer

Tore open the shade

To see who was here

 

The moon on the top

 Of the new fallen snow

Gave the luster of doghair

To the ground below.

 

And what do I see

To my started exclamation

But a miniature sleigh

And eight spotted dalmatians.

 

With a little 'ole handler

So poised and so sure

I knew in a moment

'Twould not be a bore

 

More rapid than beagles

His charges they came

And he whistled and shouted

And called them by name

 

Now Austin, now Blackjack

Now Chips and Josh P

On Morris and Fancy

On Lace and Indy

 

To the top of the doghouse

To the top of the wall

Now dash away, dash away

Dash away all

 

As the dry leaves that before

A running Dalmatian fly

Meet with an obstacle

Mount to the sky

 

So up to the housetop

The coursers they flew

With a sleigh full of choo-hooves

And St. Nicholas too.

 

And then in an instant

I heard on the roof

The scratching and digging

Of each spotted foot.

 

As I drew in my head

And was turning around

Down the chimney

St. Nicholas came with a bound.

 

He was dressed all in fur

But had not a care

For his clothes were all covered

With black and white hair.

 

A bundle of toys

He had flung on his back

And he looked like a groomer

Just opening his pack.

 

His eyes how they twinkled

His dimples how merry

His cheeks were like roses

His nose like a cherry,

 

His small little mouth

Smile to greet all his pals

And the beard on his chin

Was as white as the dals.

 

He had a broad little face

And a round little tummy

That wriggled when he laughed

Like the tail of a puppy.

 

He was chubby and plump

A right jolly old boy

The dogs barked when they saw him

Their eyes on the toys.

 

A wink of his eye

And a twist of his head

Soon told the dogs

They had nothing to dread.

 

He spoke not a word

But went straight to his work.

And filled all the stockings

Then turned with a jerk.

 

And with a pat to each

Spotted dog's nose

Giving a nod

Up the chimney he rose.

 

He sprang to his sleigh

To his team gave a whistle

And away they all flew

Like the down of a thistle.

 

And I heard him exclaim

As he drove out of sight

"Happy showing to all

And to all a good night."

 

(Karen Darling, 1993)