CHRISTMAS AT CRITTERLAND

Twas the night before Christmas and all over the farm

The critters were snuggled all cozy and warm.

The sheep in the barn and the goats in their stall

Were snuggled down, chewing their cuds, in the straw.

The donkeys had hee-hawed their last evening bray,

And were happily munching a late snack of hay.

The turkeys were sleeping in snug little groups

(Despite all my efforts, ignoring their roosts)

And the chickens, worn out from a hard day of laying,

Were dreaming their chicken dreams, of fat hens playing.

The geese and the ducks were all taking their leisure

With soft mumbled quacking and honks for good measure,

For ducks and geese both being such stubborn birds,

Neither would let the other one have the last word!

The dogs on the couch and the cats by the stove

Were so comfy nothing could have made them move!

I had just fed the hedgehogs and put on some tea

And settled down for an evening of watching TV

When all of a sudden there arose such a rumble

From out in the yard, I jumped up with a stumble

Away to the front door I quickly took flight,

Yanked open the door and turned on the light.

The moon through the clouds was creating a haze

And I peered out the door as if in a daze

When what to my wondering eyes should appear,

The man from the feed store, in full winter gear!

He had a big truck and a trailer behind

And he said, "I'm a bit early, hope you don't mind.

Santa Claus called me, he was reading your letter,

And he thought I could get the job done much better

He couldn't get all of these things in his sleigh,

So he asked if I could deliver this way!"

He said not a word more, but went straight to his work,

Unloaded the truck, and he turned with a jerk

And yanking his cowboy hat down on his head

And giving a nod, out the driveway he sped.

I stood there in wonder, my heart beating hard

Staring at everything piled in my yard!

There was hen scratch and crumbles and pelleted feed,

There was corn, oats, and barley, and sunflower seed!

Goat feed with molasses and grain for the sheep;

There was cat food and dog food and soft beds to sleep!

There were dog toys and fur mice and rawhide to chew

Catnip and beef bones and other treats too!

New halters and lead ropes, nest boxes and more,

It looked as though he had just brought the whole store!

But the mystery that made my knees shake in fear

Was that I hadn't written to Santa this year!

Then as I pondered, I thought back to November

And the light dawned as slowly I began to remember

The hoofprints I saw on my office floor

And the downy white feather stuck in the keyboard..

The pawprint on the "print" key, it all came together!

The CRITTERS had written Santa that letter!

So if it should happen that you find next year

A humongous feed bill as Christmas draws near

Leave the pasture gate open, the back door unlocked

And don't count too closely while penning your flock.

If you hear sounds at midnight like claws on the keys

Just go back to sleep, let them do what they please.

Let the critters write Santa, and see what he'll do

Remember that Santa Claus loves Critters too!