Giving Thanks

For this…

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Night Before Thanksgiving

Twas the night before Thanksgiving, when all through the hut
Not a creature was resting, not even the mutt.
The children were shelling pomegranates with care,
In hopes that their clothing wouldn’t be worse for the wear.

The youngest refused to be nestled in bed,
He danced, sang songs, and wanted to read, instead.
And mamma in her apron and I in my sweater,
Were trying to make the pomegranate syrup better.

When out from the office there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the kitchen to see what was the matter.
Away to the office I flew like a flash,
Flipped on the light and stood there aghast.

The moon on the breast of the overgrown roses
Gave the lustre of mid-day to whiskers and noses.
When, what to happen next had me more than a little smitten,
It was a miniature pup, licking a tiny young kitten.

With a slurp of the tongue, so sloppy and quick,
I knew in a moment our pets must be sick.
More rapid than eagles the kitten purr came,
And he closed his eyes tight, inviting more of the same!

“Now Wondering! Now, Wandering! Now, Whispering, too!
You really must see this! If it’s all that you do!
To the office do hurry! To the office don’t stall!
I don’t want you to miss this pet free for all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the desk-top the kitten then flew,
With a crash and a bump and falling desk items, too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the floor
The prancing and pawing of the family I adore.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the desk the kitten came, to tease the dog with a bound.

He had sloppy wet fur, from his head to his paw,
And he looked quite the imp from what I next saw.
He walked past the dog, and then scampered away
And the dog, of course, wanted the kitten to stay.

The children, how they giggled, their mood, how very merry.
Their cheeks were like roses, their noses like a cherry!
For the pomegranate juice covered them head to toe,
And on their clothing and skin, the bright red stains did show.

The red sticky stuff was all over their teeth,
And the juice stains encircled their mouths like a wreath.
They each had a stained little face, and a very full belly,
That shook with laughter, like pomegranate jelly!

Each was sticky and messy, like some misguided elf,
And I laughed when I saw them, in spite of myself!
A wink of my eye and a twist of my head,
Soon gave them to know they had nothing to dread.

We spoke not a word, but went straight to our work,
And washed all the faces, then turned with a jerk.
And watching the puppy and kitten in chase,
Their sleepiness, squealing laughter began to replace.

I sprang into action, to my team gave a whistle,
And to bed they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard them exclaim, ‘ere they skipped out of sight,
“Happy Thanksgiving to all, and to all a good-night!”