December. A Christmas Story with a Puppy

a poem as cheerful and as exciting as a puppy's tongue.

“Merry Christmas!” said Dad

As he patted my head.

“Merry Christmas!” said Mom

As she cuddled me close.

 

Today we’ve been merry

And all gathered around the table;

For hours and hours,

Until my tummy felt like bursting.

 

And after we got up,

Dad packed a parcel

Of food and of fruits.

For the “less fortunate”.

 

We’re all around the fire,

The lights have been dimmed.

Grandad is napping,

I sit by my human pup, very still.

 

Are we waiting for something?

What’s going on?

I’m happy and fuzzy all over,

And everyone seems to glow.

 

“Merry Christmas, my darling”

Wishes Dad to our Mom.

She hugs him and, what’s this?

She seems to cry.

 

Granny is teary

And looks lovingly all around.

Granddad still snores,

Quietly, like a little stove.

 

The light is warm and yellow,

The night falls slowly outside.

“It snows!” whispers Dad.

My human pup jumps; I don’t want to move.

 

“One ride in the sleigh? Please Dad, just one?”

“Let’s first sing a carol,” smiles Mom, “then you may go.”

And they gather around the tree.

Candles are being lit.

 

“Come!” calls my pup.

“Yes! I’m part of this family!” I jump.

I sit by her feet, in front of the tree

And they all huddle around.

 

They sing about people and about far way places.

The song is sad and… happy.

It makes me warm and… hopeful.

As they hum and they lull and they carol along.

 

It’s good to be out,

The air is so crisp;

The snow is so fresh,

So fluffy, so light and so… cold!

 

I run and I jump,

I dig in the snow,

I burry my snout,

Then find it again!

 

The sleigh is fast,

My ears fly in the wind.

I’m seated with my pup,

Dad pulls us along.

 

The shadows are blue,

The snowflakes are fluffy,

My human pup laughs,

Even her echo sounds happy!

 

It’s been a long Christmas,

The first one in my life.

But what IS Christmas?

I think is family and love.

I must wish friend Moll a Merry Christmas too!

 

Author's Note

A poem from my poetry book "Puppy, 12 Months of Rhymes and Smiles"

I’m busy at my writing desk when I become aware of someone watching me. I can feel his eyes on my back; I can hear his breath, suddenly noisier as my back tenses, more and more aware of his presence.
I don’t know when he walked into the study; it is certain that he is here now and he wants my attention.
I look over my shoulder, distracted. I need a few more minutes to finish this idea I’m busy with or it will escape me. But as I turn my head, he is quick at looking towards the other side. Innocent! With his head resting on his front paws he closes his eyes and sighs.
“Oh, no, you won’t!” I say out loud, knowing his game. But the instant I speak, I regret it.
He won. He got me again.
He’s at my feet now, sitting pretty, looking pleadingly up with those big innocent puppy eyes of his, unblinkingly; the tip of his tiny tail swishing behind.
I sigh at the sight of love and joy pouring from his eyes; and something else as well. Mischief, the good kind!
His small head barely reaches half way past my shin yet he doesn’t jump, he knows well enough I don’t like it. Instead, he pushes his head against my leg, looking up, his snout reaching as high as possible - barely touching my knee. The push of his whole body against my legs is a forewarning of the strength of his spirit.
I drop my pen and give him my whole attention.
“What do YOU want, Puppy?”
His tail wags madly.
“Do you want me to write about YOU?”
Now his bum wags to, joining in the excitement.
“Do you?”
He stands in delight, cannot control his body anymore. He spins around a full 360 degrees, his tongue lolling out of his mouth.
“Do you, Puppy?”
Before I know it, he’s in my lap, using me as a stool. His front paws are on my writing desk and he sniffs my papers. He sees the cover of the book I’m busy with, Joyful Trouble. Not scared of the big dog depicted, he barks cheerfully.
“Okay, Puppy, you won. I’ll write a book about you.”
I stroke his soft fur, absentminded, remembering so many dogs that won my heart before him. Tara and Gina, Athos and Porthos, Heidi ,Lady and Honda, Star and Blacky.
I’ll write a book about all of you. A happy book.