‘Twas the night before Petmas when all through the pack…

If you’re really starting to get into the Christmas spirit, you may enjoy this. It’s a poem by Carleen Coulter that takes “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” by Clement Clarke Moore and gives it a pet friendly twist. We hope you enjoy “‘Twas the Night Before Petmas” and wish you a very Merry Christmas.

 

Twas the night before Petmas when all through the pack

Not an animal was stirring, not even for snacks

The stockings were chewed by the chimney with care

In hopes that Santapaws soon would be there

 

The doggies were nestled all snug in their beds

While visions of rawhides danced in their heads

And the cat in the cat tree and I in a lap

Had just settled down for long winter’s nap

 

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter

I sprang, barked, and jumped to see what was the matter

Away to the window the cat flew with a flash

Hissed at the shutters and clawed up the sash

 

The moonlight was bright on the new fallen snow

Lighting up cat eyes that watched from below

Then what to the wondering cat eyes should appear

But a miniature sleigh and eight dogs dressed like reindeer

 

With a funny man driver, who was breaking speed laws

I knew in a moment it must be Santapaws

More rapid than beagles, his coursers they came

And he whistled and barked, and he called them by name

Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer and Vixen

On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner and Blitzen!

 

To the top of the cat tree that sits in the hall

Now dash away, dash away, snacks for you all!

As dry leaves that before wild squirrel chasers fly

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky

 

So up to the dog house the coursers they flew

With the sleigh full of cat toys and boney chews too

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing, and it made me go “woof”

 

As I threw back my head and barked like a hound

Down the chimney Santapaws came with a bound

He was dressed all in fur from his head to his snoot

And his clothes were all tarnished with dog spit and soot

A bundle of rawhides were flung on his back

And he looked like a dog walker opening his pack

His eyes, how they twinkled, his dimples how merry

his cheeks were like dog biscuits, his nose like a berry

 

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow

And the cat played with his beard as white as the snow

The stump of a biscuit he held tight in his teeth

And the crumbs from it encircled his head like a wreath

 

He had a broad face and a little round belly

That shook when he laughed like a dog dish of jelly

He was chubby and plump a right jolly old elf

And I barked when I saw him, in spite of myself

 

A wink of his eye and a pet on my head

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread

He spoke not a word, but straightened his fur

Filled up the pet stockings, then turned with a purr

 

And laying a paw pad aside of his nose

And giving a nod up the chimney he rose

He sprang to his sleigh, to his dogs gave a whistle

And away they all flew like the fur of a thistle

But I heard him exclaim as the cat played with the lights…

Merry Petmas to all

And be good companions tonight!

 

Poem courtesy of: Carleen Coulter, http://www.babble.com/…/the-night-before-christmas…/…