A Cali Christmas Poem

'Twas the morne before Christmas, and all 'round the bay,
It was clear, warm, and sunny, 65* at midday.

The stockings were nailed to the cross-beam with care,

Instead of the fire pit (so that we'd Spare the Air).

Mossie was nestled all snug on Mom's chest,

With his REM visions filled with big, milky breasts;

And Cal at her knitting, and Ben writing code,

Were avoiding the lawn ‘cause it had to be mowed.

With the fixin's for dinner on the counter arrayed,

All of them local, organic, free-trade.
Lemon cake in the oven, fruit straight from the yard,

The mulling pot boils off, and spices are charred. 

The living room window frames our oft lighted tree,

And questions are raised re: its proximity

To the path of the pups as they chase hither and yon

Slapping the glass that keeps them off the lawn.

In front of the jade tree arose such a clatter,

We sprang from the couch to see squirrels all a-chatter.

On Aoro! On Subi! Crash into the windows!

Alert us to Shopping Express guys and shadows.

The tree remained upright, but now leaned to the left,

And due to dogs’ frenzy was all but bereft

Of the little bronze bells that we’d hung ‘round the base,

Knowing full well they’d be knocked out of place.

And then, like a hailstorm, we heard through the ceiling

Avocados!  (Though reindeer would have been more appealing.)

And as the sun sets past the palm tree’d horizon,

And after our bellies are full, then we wizen...

Up to the fact that we’d better start wrapping

And hurry with presents while Moss is still napping.

So now the house quiets, along and across.

Not a creature is stirring, not even a Moss.

The candles are twinkling, the tree is alight.

Happy Xmoss to all, and to all a good-night!

~~~

Our delicious dinner

Moss being hung from the cross-beam with care

 Mossie, that is ridiculous.  Get down from there.

Sunday wasn't a Spare the Air day...  :)