THE NIGHT BEFORE DOG-MAS
by Robert Jay Russell, Ph.D.,
Coton de Tulear Club of America President,
www.cotonclub.com
December 24th, 2007. Here's a special poem from a small gift book by Claudine
Gandolfi, Peter Pauper Press, In., 1998, White Plains, New York. Enjoy, and
please remember those vulnerable and alone this special day...
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 the 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 saviors they came,
and we barked and we howled
and we called them by name:
"There's Dutchess!
There's King!
fat Chance
and bare Buffy!
On Fido! On Scooter!
on, Rover and Scruffy!
Go by the red hydrant
and run past 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.
Aa I pulled in my nose,
and was turning around,
through the door St. Bernard
came in 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 in
what looked like a grin.
His eyes--how they twinkled!
his ears flopped--how merry!
his coat shone like a crystal,
his nose like a cherry!
His big sloppy mouth
was drawn up like a bow,
and the fur on his chin
was as white as the snow;
The stump of a bone
he 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!"
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