Alex's Asteroid Astrology

‘Twas the night before Solstice,

and all through the house,

what the cats had to play with

was just one worn-out mouse.

 

Some catnip was slung

by the lintels with care,

in hopes that its scent

Santy Claws would ensnare.

 

 

The kittens were cuddled

on Pop-Pop’s old coat,

contentedly purring

from deep in their throats.

 

 

Tuckered from ripping

the pillowcase seams,

they slumbered to visions

of rodent-filled dreams.

 

 

Mama Ashes was sleeping

in Daddy’s warm lap

(‘twas but a small portion

of her twenty-hour nap).

 

 

When down in the larder

there arose a loud clatter;

we took such a fright,

we near-voided our bladders.

 

 

Down to the landing

we flew like a flash,

and peeked round the corner

so as not to get bashed.

 

 

The glow from the street lights

that came through the door

gave a luster of midday

to what lay on the floor.

 

 

As I drew back my head,

and was turning around,

through the half-opened window

Santy Claws leapt with a bound!

 

 

He was covered with fur

from his tail to his nose

(which was something quite normal

for a cat, I suppose).

 

 

His white fur was gleaming

beneath his red suit;

he was cuddly and charming,

and really quite cute!

 

 

His amber eyes twinkled

‘neath silver-frost lashes,

and his whiskers so fulsome

they looked like moustaches!

 

 

He had a pink nose

and over-sized ears;

an appearance that quickly

dispelled all our fears.

 

 

He was chubby and plump,

a right jolly old kitty,

and not to have seen him

would have been quite a pity.

 

 

He sported a cap

on the top of his head;

trimmed all in white,

it was reddest of red.

 

 

He carried a bundle

that seemed over-full,

but he quickly extracted

many gifts for our Yule.

 

 

A red mouse for Samhain,

a white one for Ashes;

a brown one for Hallows

to cover with gashes.

 

 

 

He brought out a red ball

and then one of green,

that shimmered and jingled

as he dropped them to preen.

 

 

He sniffed at the catnip,

and lapped at the cream,

then nibbled some tuna

we had left on the scene.

 

 

He purred satisfaction,

his task now complete,

then he waggled his tail

and skipped back to the street.

 

 

But I heard him meow,

as he leapt through the gap,

“Happy Solstice to All,

and to All a good nap!”