Wednesday, December 24, 2008

'Twas The Night Before Christmas

'TWAS the night before Christmas
And all through the barn
Not a creature was stirring
Anywhere on the farm

The stockings were hung
On the stall doors with care
In hopes that Saint Nicholas
Soon would be there

The horses were all snuggled
Into straw-banked beds
While visions of sweet feed
Danced in their heads

And Argus was in his blanket
Chubby Half Pint going bare
Both hoping and wishing
Santa soon would be there

When out in the arena
There arose such a clatter!
They leapt into their paddocks
To see what was the matter!

The moon on the puddles
In the wet winter pasture
Made the night light so blinding
They breathed faster and faster!

When what to their
Brown horsey eyes should appear
But a jolly red sleigh
And eight hungry reindeer

In the driver's seat sat Santa
All dressed up in red
And he winked at the horses
As they spied from their beds

Then something odd happened
The horses grew brave
And Santa addressed them
Which made them quite grave:

"Now Argus! Now Half Pint!
Now Odie and Angel!
Now Ginger and Caleb!
And Ridge in the stable!"

"To your herd mates be kind
And don't waste your hay!
Take care of your riders
And love each new day!"

As dry shavings that before
The wild hurricane fly
When they meet with the winds
Mount to the sky

And suddenly the horses
Who before felt quite shy
Felt themselves flying around
With Santa in the sky!

So around the farm
The horses they flew
They looked down on the home
They loved and they knew

And then, on the house top
They thumped on the roof
And the family inside
Heard the pounding of hooves

"What's that?" they shouted
As they woke from their beds
"We thought we heard horses
Loose overhead!"

So out to the stables
The family they ran
Where they found it quite empty
Save for the horse goat, An'

They peered at the sky
For a sign of the equines
And for a moment, saw Santa
Riding Argus just fine

Then suddenly, and quietly
The horses were there
Munching hay and looking sleepy
As if they had no cares

So the lights were extinguished
The excitement went "poof"
And the family missed Santa
Spying down from the roof

To each horse, he gave a gift
And when he got to the last
It was Argus, the white one
He'd seen on many a Christmas past

"You're a good horse, dear Argus"
Santa said with a tear,
You have suffered so long
So many a year"

"I promise you will always
Have a loving, peaceful life
With pastures and buddies
An end of all strife"

Argus thought quietly
About all the nights
And the bleak Christmases of waiting
For the arrival of light

This, his second Christmas
Of freedom and cheer
He'd been a real horse, a free horse
For more than a year

Santa sprang to his sleigh
To his team gave a whistle
And winking once more at Argus
He flew away like a missile

The horses heard him exclaim
As he drove out of sight
"Merry Christmas, dear Argus!
And to all --- a good night!"

13 comments:

summersmom said...

Beautiful. Thank you for sharing that. Merry Christmas to you all!

Holly said...

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

excaliber813 said...

What a wonderful story! Told, as only you can Katie!
Merry Christmas to all @ Watermark Farm, a Blessed New Year!

Don’t forget to CREEP out to the barn tonight just after midnight and see if you can hear anything! The horses are supposed to be able to speak to one another from midnight until dawn on Christmas Eve. Celtic lore I believe. WHAT A WONDERFUL THOUGHT, THAT THIS MIGHT BE POSSIBLE!

Doe

Anonymous said...

Katie:

Shedding tears of joy tonight....again....for Argus and your other lucky animals! I check your blog daily for updates on my favorite white horse, and it ALWAYS makes me happy, to the core, to know there are people like you in the world.

Merry Christmas, Katie, and God bless!

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas, dear Katie, and all in your care. Like the earlier writer, I, too, was taught that the beasts speak in the wee hours. My mother told me so, and she never lied. She also told me of the wonder of a stable, on Christmas Eve, full of the sweet smells of grain and horses, and the soft, peaceful whuffles and murmurs they make, and the love all around.

Thank you, and your remarkable family, for doing what you do so very well, and thank you for sharing it with all of us. You tend, dear Katie, not only to the horses in your ward, but to all of us whose souls bleed from time to time at the difficulties of the world.

With love to you, to Argus, to all your beasties, and every wish for a joyous day tomorrow, and a season full of love, laughter, good things to nibble and hugs everywhere you turn.

Jean in Seaside, Ca.

cdncowgirl said...

Wow! Well written and creative.
Merry Christmas to you and your family (human and critter alike)

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous! I'm still crying. Give Argies a big hug for me and kisses on the nose for everyone else, especially Ridge and Caleb.
Merry Christmas!
Love,
Victoria, Sport (my Argus), Ben (my Half Pint), and Gracie the miniature donkey

pchoofinit said...

Twas the night of Christmas, and all through the farm
The horses were eating, all safe and warm.

Santa stood smiling at Argus with such measure.
Knowing no gift he'd leave
could ever give as much pleasure

As Katie has given
without reserve
to him and his barn mates
they surely deserve.

So Santa left knowing,
there will always be hay
for Argus to eat, each and every day.


I wish for Katie's love to spread around to world. To give peace and love to all living creatures.
You are a gift to us, Katie.
Thank you. Merry Christmas
Patti C.

SOSHorses said...

Merry Christmas to the angel in the west. God bless you and all your family.

You poem was beautiful and I could not keep the smile from my face. I can only imagine the look on my face as I read but I felt like I was seeing it through the eyes of a child on a frosty winters night.

Best wishes to all at Watermark for many more good fortunes for the new year.

Bless you for all you have done for Argus. You have given him so much more than freedom. In his dreams you have given him wings; and in his heart he knows how to use them.

Cheryl Ann said...

How cute! Happy Holidays!

Ruby Isabella said...

What a beautiful poem and a beautiful story!!! I am a hound who found a good home after only seven months. 16 or 17 years is so long and then to find a great, loving home is inspirational. So here's to all animals (including humans) who have found a good home. And let's hope those who haven't will soon.

Anonymous said...

Can we have an update on Argies please?

Schnitzie said...

BAWLING!!! This was such a beautiful poem! What a talent and what a heart you have, Katie. This is the best gift for Christmas that I could ask for.