A cold dark night, with ice and snow,
a small town shivers as the north wind blows.
This big grand house sits snug on a hill,
what lives in its walls where the frosty air chills?
There sat a family, as hungry as can be,
Momma, Poppa and soon baby makes three.
The house kept so clean, not a morsel did lie,
and through their mouse hole, they see a cat’s eye.
Poppa oft remembers days gone by,
when he was so fast, and young and spry.
As it gets late and the cat sleeps nearby,
the fireplace crackles, its lights dance high.
Poppa looks at mama so innocent and slight,
he thinks to himself, “I must do something,
I must do SOMETHING TONIGHT!”
He peers through the dark out the mouse hole,
lights flicker in, a little heart flutters, carefully he stole.
Out stretched his neck and what did he see?
A big giant green fluffy pine cone tree!
He looked all around,
timidly he walked,
ever ready to bound.
There laid the cat, snug by the fireplace,
curled all up, asleep on a mat.
A big shining star sits on the tree,
the little mouse thought,
is that where the treats may be!
Then he thought to himself,
“I think I can, I think tonight,
I will climb this tree,
with all my might!”
Up he went around a skinny trunk,
over silver tinsel and in glass balls,
his reflection grew and shrunk.
The tree was shaking,
While around he was snaking,
Then it happened like a flash,
down fell a glass globe,
with a loud crash!
Up jerked the cats head,
and just as quickly,
a feeling so sickly
Poppa’s heart felt like lead.
Poor Poppa so close to his prize,
“I tried so hard,
Now I’ll lose everything,” he cries!
Poppa could see the star so near,
he thought of Mama and baby,
and he lost all of his fear!
Courage did reign and up he scattered,
but down below he heard a shatter!
Here came the cat climbing real fast,
Poppa thought, “Oh my, how long will I last?”
Then he seen it as he reached the star,
Way down below he could see from afar!
Down there was a table decorated so nice,
loaded with candy, goodies, food galore
that would surely make for happy mice!
The cat drew near; it’s the end Poppa thought,
Poor little Mama what have I wrought?
Then all of a sudden with all the extra weight,
the strain on the tree was just too great.
It must have been a sight
As the tree swayed back,
And it swayed forth
then left and right!
Poppa held on with all his strength
holding so tight and
the bright star just at arm’s length.
The tree shook and leaned back,
then it popped forward with a loud crack,
off flew the star and the mouse and the cat!
The feline landed with a loud thud
right next to his old mat!
Furry legs stretched out
and all told,
entirely out cold!
Poppa hung onto the star as it fell to the table below,
it knocked off the goodies and candy filled bowls,
then all the candy rolled
ONE by ONE
into the mouse hole!
Off the table Poppa did jump,
over a cat dazed and laid in a clump!
He ran home fast as he could
he then heard a soft cry
like only a baby would.
Now in his family there were three
Poppa, Mama and a new baby.
Proud of his newborn son, Daddy can finally rest,
On this Christmas Eve in his sweet little nest.
On this night,
When a son is born,
And a star so bright,
after a miracle so small,
some just may recall,
The Greatest Miracle Of Them All.
~Othen Cummings
