'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse (because mice hate Santa Cats);
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that Santa Cat soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of a cat with a bow tie danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap (kerchief = negligee),
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap (Santa Cat does not sleep…EVER),
When out on the lawn there arose such a meow,
I sprang from the bed to see what was this sound,
Away to the window I stumbled quite slow,
Tore open the shutters to see what was below,
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
What that describes I don’t even know,
When, what to my wondering eyes should spat,
But eight tiny reindeer and one Santa Cat,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. (or maybe Dom Deluise)
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now get Santa Cat all the presents in his paws!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
I saw a slight twinkle in Santa Cat’s eye,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and Santa Cat too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing of each little paw and hoof.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney Santa Cat came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur (duh), from his head to his paw,
And his bow tie and hat were all that I saw;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his tail,
And he looked like a peddler just opened his pail.
His eyes -- how they twinkled! his whiskers how merry!
His cheeks were like regular cats, his nose like a cherry!
His awesome bow tie drawn up in a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he purred like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old cat,
And I laughed when I saw him, because I too am fat;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread (yet);
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his paw aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a meow,
And away they all flew like KAPOW!
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"MEOOOOEOOWWWWWWWWWWWW."
.jpg)
