'Twas the Night Before Christmas

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
No thoughts of the Piggy were filling their heads.
And Mom in her 'kerchief and I in my cap,
Knew he was cold but did not care about that.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
I figured the Piggy was free and into the trash.

The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow,
Gave the luster of mid-day to the objects below.
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But Santa Claus with eyes full of tears.

He unchained the Piggy, once so lively and quick,
Last year's Christmas present, now sad, thin, and sick.
More rapid than eagles he called the Piggy's name,
And the Piggy ran to him, despite all his pain.

"Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now Prancer and Vixen!
On Comet! On Cupid! On Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!
This Piggy needs a home where he'll be loved by all!"

I knew in an instant there'd be no gifts this year,
For Santa had made one thing perfectly clear.
The gift of a Piggy is not just for the season,
We had gotten the Piggy for all the wrong reasons.

In our haste to think of a gift for the kids,
There was one very important thing that we missed.
A Piggy should be family and cared for the same,
You don't give a gift then put it out on a chain.

And I heard him exclaim as he rode out of sight,
"You weren't given a gift, you were given a life!"

~ Author Unkown