A PUPPY FOR CHRISTMAS

As Santa loaded his magic sack
filled with gifts for girls and boys,
he added candy and sugar plums
and batteries for moving toys.

At the top of the sack he carefully packed
the most special gift of all --
a darling pup for a boy named Timmy,
who from the sack tried to crawl.

Santa turned the puppy around,
he righted him right side up.
"Cause there's no more precious cargo,
than a precocious bright-eyed pup."

As he made his appointed rounds
and down Timmy's chimney slid,
he discovered all the sack havoc
what the blessed pup had done undid!

Santa looked around the room.
It was clear this family was poor.
He noticed the shabbiness everywhere
and their poverty he couldn't ignore.

He waved his arms and a tree appeared,
adorned by blinking lights.
He sneezed and holly boughs were hung,
he created a Christmas sight.

Then Santa took to worrying
about a home whose ends wouldn't meet,
and whether it would be fair to anyone
when a pup needs a lot to eat.

He scratched his head and knitted his brow,
accustomed to granting any child's wish.
And the puppy, grown impatient,
jumped up and gave Santa a kiss.

Santa sat down with pen in hand
and he wrote the following note.
He considered each word, thought long and hard
about every sentence he wrote.

"Dear Timmy, you are a splendid lad,
and I hoped to fill your request,
but for the animals of this world,
they each only deserve the best.

"One day, you'll grow to understand
that not every wish may come true,
but I know there's a dog in your future,
who will love the best of you.

"The time right now was not to be,
I hope my other gifts make you smile.
One day you'll be a fine young man,
but for a dog, you must wait awhile.

Santa sighed as he folded the note,
and the pup again pawed Santa's knee.
Santa patted the puppy's head,
lost in thought, absentmindedly.

The puppy worried about something amiss,
and whether he'd have a home.
Perhaps with someone to love him for life -
maybe love with toys and a bone?

Santa looked into the little dog's eyes,
in those eyes, love plain to see.
He said, "I've always wanted a dog myself,
and you'll be coming home with me!"

-- Jim Willis
http://www.crean.com/jimwillis