THE NIGHT BEFORE DOG-MAS

By Claudine Gandolti

"Twas the night before Dog-mas when all through the pound
Not a puppy was yelping or playing around;
Our leashes were hung, by our kennels with care,
In hopes that St. Bernard would soon find us there.

Chihuahuas were curled up, all snug in their beds,
While visions of doggie treats danced in their heads;
Max in his collar, on somebody's lap,
Had tucked in his tail for a midwinter's nap.

When outside the room there arose such a clatter,
My ears perked right up to hear what was the matter.
Away to the window I jumped up with glee,
And barked at the shadows that were cast by a tree.

The glow from the moon changed night into day,
And started me thinking, "woof woof time to play!"
When, what with my puppy-dog eyes did I see,
But a splendid dog sled, led by doggies like me.

With a regal furred driver commanding, not stern.
I yelped to the others, "That must be St. Bern!"
More rapid than greyhounds our saviours they came,
And we barked and we howled, and called them by name.

"There's Duchess! There's King! Fat Chance, and bare Buffy!
On Fido!  On Scooter! On Rover and Scruffy!
Go by the red fire hydrant and run pass those trees!
Nothing can stop you, not even some fleas!"

As puppies at play chase after a stick,
And race to their masters so lively and quick,
So out in the field his canines all flew,
Catching the frisbees, that St. Bernard threw.

And then in an instant I heard at the door
The scratching and clawing of each little paw.

As I pulled in my nose, and was turning around,
Through the door St. Bernard came in with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his tail
His wood cask adorned with an icing of hail.

A bag of chew toys he had brought in with him,
And his mouth was turned up what looked like grin.
His eyes how they twinkled! His ears flopped, how merry!
His coat shone like crystal, his nose like a cherry!

His big floppy mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the fur on his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a bone was held tight in his teeth,
And his collar encircled his neck like a wreath.

He had a large face and a furry, round belly
That shook when he barked, like a bowl full of jelly.
He was fluffy and plump, a big cuddly, old pooch
And I laughed when I saw him and gave him a smooch.

A wink of his eye and a wag of his tail;
We knew right away we'd have homes without fail.
He howled not a howl, but went straight to his deed,
And took down our leashes that soon we would need.

He opened the door and families stood there,
With children, all smiling, and much love to spare.

He leapt to his sled, to his team gave a call
And away they all flew as if chasing a ball.
But I heard him exclaim as he chewed on a bone;
"Happy Dog-mas to all and to all a good home!"

Submitted by Hart Dowd, Canada

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