Here is a poem i wrote some years ago for some kids i babysat for...(enjoy...i know i did writing it and illustrating it...)
If you ask the dog, to trim your Christmas tree,
Please watch him closely, as a caution to you from me.
For it was holiday stress time, Christmas Eve to be exact,
our nerves were fried, and the Christmas Spirit we lacked.
The shopping malls were filled that day; the parking was a mess.
The whiny kids screaming "Beanie Babies!", at 80 decibels no less.
But, we returned, though in no mood to decorate with glee,
Our lovingly, hand-picked though naked Christmas Tree.
There it stood, with a look so grim and branches that were bare,
Unfortunately, our shopping trip, left us without much care.
Our dog, however, yawned and stretched, free from holiday strife,
"It figures," I said, "he's never Christmas shopped in his entire life."
We decided it was Rover's turn this year to greet Santa and his sleigh,
so, we gave him the boxes of decorations, and even Santa's cookie tray.
I wrote a list of his holiday chores, lest he should forget,
how holiday decorating standards should be properly met.
"a restful night of sleep. "I thought, as I pat Rover on his head
satisfied with our ingenious plan we headed off for bed.
Although he suffered tinsel injuries and his tail getting caught in a trunk,
Rover got to work immediately and dug through the boxes of junk.
His first task was the tree, y'know to give it holiday grace.
but it's always hard to be graceful with candy cane juice on your face.
He tried to hang the 'lectric lights, but to no avail
They insisted on entwining themselves around poor Rover's tail.
The baubles and bells were no better and as he tried to hang each one,
They each took their turn on Rover's nose swingin' round just for fun.
Rover also added his personal touch in decorating the tree
with dog biscuits and rubber balls; each one hung delicately
Satisfied with his taste in Christmas tree dŽcor,
Rover looked around; to decorate some more...
He baked the Christmas sugar cookies, all on his own,
they came out warm and sweet; each shaped like a bone.
He set some out for Santa, in his very own dog dish
with water for him to drink and a dinner mint if he wished.
Rover then eyed the presents with a twinkle in his eye
he started wrapping with newspaper, his paws began to fly.
each present he wrapped he treated with special care,
The paper wrapped bows he tied with unique flair.
With added bonus on each gift, a tag basted with beef
"Such creative artistry" he thought, "they'll be stunned beyond belief."
When Christmas morn' finally came around, we awoke to such a sight
with Rover in the center of it all wagging his tail in delight.
Santa came and went; he left his questioning note of thanks
Rover received a new chew toy and a package of beef franks.
So if you please, 'pawden' the wrapping and un-Christmas looking snack,
for our ingenious idea was not so ingenious, now that we're looking back.
I'm sure next year, we'll be wiser when we set out the welcome mat
for Santa will be greeted next year by our more "tasteful" loving cat.
