Merry Christmas from the Cabin
TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS IN NAUVOO
The night before Christmas in the year 2020
Found folks everywhere experiencing troubles aplenty.
A plague of Old Testament magnitude
Was ravaging almost every neighborhood.
It sickened tens of millions, and other hardships it wrought.
Upheavals in everyone’s everyday lives it brought.
Jobs were lost, businesses closed down, schools out – or in?
People separated from their friends or their kin.
Along with the pestilence of Biblical size,
Wildfires in California had darkened the skies.
Volcanoes, floods, and famine struck in many locations
Along with contention and conflict of human creation.
“Why can’t we all just get along?” many of us asked.
In America, a peaceful election was almost too much to ask.
Everywhere we look, we wonder if there’s hope,
As beleaguered humans struggle to cope.
But – look up there in the Christmas sky!
A brilliant star beckons, drawing us nigh –
The symbol of God’s unending mercy and grace.
His arm outstretched to every member of the human race.
So even if for a little while, before we start fighting again,
Let’s make our Cabin a little piece of heaven.
And now... a special surprise from the Cabin critters.
’Twas the night before Christmas in the Nauvoo neighborhood.
The pups and the kitties were being so good!
The pets were all sleeping, or so it would seem
That sugar-plum fairies danced through each furry dream.
Finished were all the shopping, baking, and adorning,
Wrapping and labeling, preparing for Christmas morning.
Mail was sent off in hopes of on-time delivery
To faraway loved ones, missionaries, and military.
Something was up, the critters could sense,
And they became perfect angels—no more pretense.
They wanted that visit by Santa and his elves,
So those ornery fur-balls were their very best selves!
But Hound Dog was awake, going over his plot,
While Annabelle silently rehearsed her own part.
Pepper couldn't see, but could hear and bark.
And Punkin had eyes like radar in the dark.
The two youngest pets were still full of fun and tricks.
They weren’t really new anymore – they’d come in ‘06,
Dreyfuss the sheep dog was hard-working and smart,
A shaggy white coat covered a big canine heart.
Black and white Ivie was a Salt Lake kitty.
She’d been rescued and healed by the shelter in the city.
All the pets living in the shadow of Nauvoo’s steeple
Hatched a Christmas plot to surprise their people.
Parrot had snuck back from wherever he'd been
And was perched on the window sill, peering in.
At the stroke of eleven, he gave a low squawk
And the other critters went to their work.
Hound dashed outside and dug up his bones
That he'd been hiding in a pile of stones.
Annabelle went to her own secret den
And brought back fresh mice--there must have been ten.
Punkin had a hideaway where her prizes were kept:
Sparrows and finches peacefully slept.
She corralled a dozen and returned to the house,
Along the way catching another stray mouse.
Dreyfuss helped herd each little mouse and bird,
While Ivie made sure the Incabitants weren’t disturbed.
The furred and feathered friends in no time at all
Had their “gifts” lined up along the Cabin wall.
The best thing about the "prey": it was all still living.
The pets had planned on this special night of giving
To their favorite humans, the Incabitants of Nauvoo
Who fed and sheltered and loved them too.
Just before midnight, Pepper went from bed to bed,
Giving each sleeper a nudge in the head.
As the clock struck twelve, Parrot squawked loud and clear,
"Rise and shine, people, Santa is here!"
The folks of Nauvoo were suddenly wide-eyed,
Looking at what the pets had assembled inside.
The dogs had their bones cleaned, shiny and nice.
The cats were tending live birdies and mice.
As if that weren’t enough, there was yet more:
Long-lost Smiley Owl fluttered through the door,
Carefully carrying a living dove,
The world-wide symbol of peace and love.
Smiley Owl also brought a special message to show
From a guest we had hosted years ago:
A cat that came as a stow-away from an Israeli dock
Sent “Happy Hanukkah” wishes to the Nauvoo flock.
Another guest from years past was there:
Koda, a happy and healthy polar bear.
He’d spent some time here for recuperation
From a painful root canal operation.
Another polar bear, Cranbeary, came here to recover
From a broken leg caused by her too-ardent lover.
They patched up their differences and have their own brood,
And this year they’ve joined the critters in the ‘hood
For the animal festivities of Christmas Eve.
But the cubs needed their sleep, so they had to leave
Fairly early. But Cranbeary wanted to introduce them all
To our critters who helped her recover so well.
A bright, noisy flock gathered on the Cabin sill.
“Meet the Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill,”
Parrot squawked. “They’ve heard so much about Nauvoo,
They flew out from San Francisco to see if it was true.”
Even Cockroach extended a Christmas greeting
As he took a break from his perpetual eating.
He slowly, timidly held out a tiny tidbit;
It was all he could hold, but he wanted us to have it.
Now, not all critters are popular with some Incabitants;
The forests hold some “scary” inhabitants.
So Parrot brought veggies and sunflower seed fritters
As gifts for those who didn’t want real critters.
Merry Christmas from Annabelle, Dreyfuss, and Hound;
Pepper and Ivie, who were lost and then found;
Loveable Punkin, our orange Halloween kitty,
Parrot, who’s at home in the woods or the city.
Spirit pets are also part of our menagerie.
Laurie’s furry friends come from across the sea.
Tellulah is a homebody, Oberon’s big and clever.
They’re spirit cats, which means they’ll be here forever.
There’s Mungo and Teazer, and Mandee Meree,
And other critters whose people we may or may not see.
We have goldfish, canaries, cows, goats, and poodles.
They and their humans will always be virtual Nauvoodles.
A big flock of critters, a world of love and cheer
Along with the wonderful Incabitants here.
Happy holidays from all in the Cabin at Nauvoo,
For Christmas, and Hanukkah and Kwanzaa too.
Our Father loves all His children and His critters too,
And watches over everyone here in Nauvoo.
Little Punkin just burrowed close and said how
She feels the Christmas spirit in Nauvoo right now.
Our Cabin critters are happy—because their humans are.
Being happy with us—that’s what all pets wish for.
People are still suffering, some jobless or ill,
But Nauvoo is a place where we all feel good will.
We’ll do our best to help those all around
Be fed, clothed, and sheltered, safe and sound.
We’ll pray for a better, healthier new year
For our Earth and all who dwell on it, far and near.
The old star led the Magi to where the Christ Child lay,
But wise men and women still seek Him today.
Joyful wishes from the Cabin to all people and nations,
And peace in the new year to all God's creations.
St. Patrick's Day
Total Members: 
Average Posts: 10