KITTY CHRISTMAS

‘Twas Night Before Christmas

A holiday poem dedicated to the 3 Bs — Bernie, Bella and Buddy

Photo from Susan Herbert’s book, Diary of a Victorian Cat

’Twas night before Christmas, and all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, especially that mouse.

That mouse, he was hiding, ‘neath the chimney with care, In hopes that three cats weren’t prowling somewhere.

The humans were nestled all snug in their beds, With dreams of new iPhones filling their heads.

Bernie was purring, and Bella was rapt, As they watched Buddy set up the mouse trap.

When out of the chimney, they heard such a clatter, Humans sprang from their beds to see what was the matter.

That mouse lept to the window, and flew in a flash, He tore open the shutters and shredded the sash.

He jumped from the window into new-fallen snow, In just a split second, he had defeated his foe!

Then, what to their wondering eyes should appear, But an oversized box with a mouse called a “deer.”

The deer mouse was old, but so lively and quick, The cats stared in awe — he was dressed like St. Nick.

Courtesy of cllker.com

Faster than whippets his helpers they came, He squeaked, and he chirped as he called out their names.

“Now, Jumper! Now, Shiner! Now, Gumshoe, and Mole, Come Prowler! Come Skulker! Come Slider and Vole!”

“To the top of the window, to the top of the wall! Now leap to their food bowls, take away all!”

The cats, they were startled, their humans were gone, Back to bed, grumbling, “Nothing going on!”

Bernie, and Bella, and Buddy too, Cringed in the corner — oh, what could they do!

And then, in a twinkling, they heard on the roof Muskrats, woodchucks, marmots on the hoof.

But just as they were preparing to flee, Down came the deer mouse, grinning with glee!

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his tail, He may have looked old, but he sure wasn’t frail!

Cat treats and catnip was flung on his back, Was this guy from PetCo, opening his sack?

His tiny eyes twinkled! And such a sweet face, Not like the others — those mice that they chase.

He replaced their stale kibble with goodies so sweet, The three cats now purred and stretched out by his feet.

The ‘nip was so fine, it made them quite high, Bella was rolling, and Bernie asked why….

“Why are you kind when we’ve been so mean? We’ve always chased mice, sometimes as a team!”

He spoke not a word but continued his work, Filling their stockings, he then turned with a jerk.

“Be good to the rodents; they’ve done you no harm, Don’t scare them, nor chase them, nor give them alarm.”

“A peaceable kingdom should be our goal, Peace between cats and dogs, mice and moles.”

Artist Edward Hicks “Peaceable Kingdom” National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC

Bernie, Bella, and Buddy — their heads hung in shame, Promised from now on, they’d never chase, kill, or maim

Any of Earth’s creatures — they made a solemn vow, We won’t start tomorrow; we shall start right now.

As their humans slept in peace, iPhones by their beds, The cats opened crackers, cookies, and bread.

It’s the least we can do to make Christmas bright, We’ll feed mice — even rats — tonight and each night!

The deer mouse lept to his sleigh and drove out of sight “Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good night!!

This is a slightly revised version of a poem I wrote several years ago on Medium.

© Deborah Camp 2024. All Rights Reserved.

Thank you for your time and interest!