Twas the Night Before Christmas, Greyhound Version

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

The pups were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of meaty marrow bones danced in their heads;
And me in my sequined fleece jammies, and my human in her sweats,
Had just settled in for some cozy evening pets.

When out on the street there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Paws up to the window I flew like a flash,
Nudged open the blinds and threw up the stash.

The moon on the needles of the cacti did glow,
Gave the luster of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my Cleopatra-lined eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and 17 tiny sight hound reindeer.

With a little old driver, so nimble and quick,
I knew in a nano-second it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than coursers the sight hounds they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:

Now Harmony, Opa, Misty, Gordon, Quinn Jose, Buddy, and Ride-ER
On Saffron, Opal, Riley, Laila, Candy, Rosie, Donut, Franklin, and — Beam-ER
To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!
Now dash away! GO POTTY! Dash away all!

As dry leaves that before the wild winds fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the sight hounds they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, just for good dogs like you.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I wiggled my velvet ears, and admired this old hound
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all covered with dog hairs and soot;
A bundle of Zany toys he had flung on his back,
And I wondered if he had any Screaming Monkeys in his sack?

His eyes — how they twinkled! His dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like apples, his nose like a cherry!
I sniffed his leg and wondered where he had been?
Did he visit Beagles, Labs, Terriers, and kit-tens?

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke encircled his head like a pukey wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly elf,
And I ROOED when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
My tail wagged and I wondered if I was getting fed?

He spoke not a word, nor did I dare bark,
He filled all the stockings; Gee, it was a real lark,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving me a nod, then up the chimney he rose.

He sprang to his sleigh, and gave his hounds a whistle,
Away they all flew, like the crack of a thistle.
But I heard him yell, as he drove out of sight,
“HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL CREATURES BIG AND SMALL, LET’S CLOSE MORE DOG TRACKS IN 2010. AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!”

Roo! Roo!    (the end)

<hugs>,

Lily – a.k.a. Drama Queen – still a wild & crazy 12-year-old brindle bombshell

(photo: Diana Hansen)