It’s the pre-Christmas production of Friday Fictioneers, ably steered by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields and picture this week courtesy of Scott Vannatter. The cute little link thing after my story will grant you access to flight of imagination of all sorts (AKA the rest of the stories.) Feel free to post your own story and no matter what, have a blessed and happy Christmas/holiday.
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
(With thanks to Clement Clarke Moore for the original)
‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house
Just one creature was stirring and it wasn’t a mouse.
The stockings were hung on the mantel with care
Just a jump-able distance away in the air.
The tree looked delightful, amazing to see,
The perfect playground for a Christmas kitty.
The family was snoozing away for the night.
Now was the time for some Christmas delight.
All of a sudden, there arose such a clatter
They rushed down to see the whole lot in tatters.
But in the kitchen, there was nothing to see
Save an innocent-looking, complacent kitty!
**********************
I struggled this week to not run amok and re-write the entire poem because I had some great lines that I couldn’t get in to this version. (May do it another time.) However, I ruthlessly channeled my inner Rich/Nazi English teacher (NOT saying that’s you, Rich, but I know you’ll give me a hard time about it anyway) and pared and re-pared until I actually got down to 100 words, my goal each week just because it is. 🙂 I hope it gave you a good laugh and got you in the Christmas spirit!
This, that and the other thing 
LOL this is very sweet and funny, yes it does put one in the spirit!
Good! Glad you liked it.
Very nice, had me smiling
We aim to please and draw a smile with this one. Glad it worked!!
Cute. Thanks for the chuckle.
My pleasure.
NICE!!! You captured the expression on that cat’s face purrrfectly!
p.s. I’m jealous of such poetic competence…
Awww, thanks, Ted.
Hey! Really cleverly done! Highly enjoyable, and again, so clever.
Yar, matey. I appreciate it and have a wonderful Christmas aboard your pirate ship.
A enjoyable take on the prompt.
Tom
I love this! It’s never the cat’s fault, you know.
And please share your other great lines with us sometime soon. 😉
Have to write them first and time’s an issue right now. But I will when I write them.
Dear Janet,
Don’t you know cats are the master race? Very cute. I’m smiling as a type.
Shalom and a Joyous Noel,
Rochelle
They certainly think they are, that’s for sure. As always, I’m happy you enjoyed it. Just seemed like a good time for some Christmas relaxation and fun (although not for the cat’s family!!) Many happy returns to you and yours as well. I’m looking forward to lots of family time and couple time, too! 🙂
As always a job well done.
Nice of you to say so. 🙂
The perfect playground for a Christmas kitty.
It certainly is
Now was the time for some Christmas delight.
It certainly is
there was nothing to see save an innocent-looking, complacent kitty.
It certainly wasn’t.
I hate a pusillanimous pussy.
Nice Christmas pare of stanzas
Nice of you not to be catty. 🙂
nice of you not to scratch my eyes out (only;my apostrophes)
such a great, fun poem.. made me smile.. the little rascal ^^
Very sweet! Nicely metered.
that was only 100? wow. visually, it looked like more, and i was going to say that when doing something in the spirit of a parody, then you certainly should be forgiven for surpassing 100. and also, since it’s in a poetic form, some grammar rules are suspended. regardless, that was fun to read, and i’m sure even more fun for the kitty. well done.
Very well done. And that kitty put on such an innocent maw.
But of course. The look of innocence is all.
A wonderful poem, Janet. Real cute. I’ve been working on other posts and poems on my blog, but I did one too, to the same theme as ” Twas The Night Before Christmas” with my version on my blog site. I posted 3 Christmas poems up and got the next scheduled post ready to go on Sunday. So, may not get time for one this week, but will see.
Thanks, Joyce. I’m behind on reading as we were out all day and we’re driving to Naperville tomorrow (and still have to pack the van and my clothes) so I may not get caught up until the weekend. I hate waiting, but first things first. Have a wonderful Christmas!!
Thanks, Janet. You too (have a wonderful Christmas) and stay safe.
Super fun! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. I could picture each event as it happened. Maybe because I have experienced many this year. It’s been so long since I’ve had a young cat in the house. She was half way up the tree earlier this week. It’s her first Christmas. Fun times. This was so full of merry truth. Loved it!
Thanks, Debra! I hope you have a great Christmas without any incidents such as those I described. 🙂
Let’s hope. There aren’t any ornaments or presents on or around the tree to tempt her yet. Just the tree and lights and she’s already a bad kitty. LOL.
there seems to be a low of Twas the night poems going around! I did one the other day. My version. this one was really cute, and so much truth in it for the kitties.
Hmmm, I haven’t seen any so I didn’t know I was being derivative. But it was a lot of fun and I’m glad you enjoyed it. I know that cat did.
Merry Christmas and happy 2013!
oh not on fictioneers, just in general, have a great holiday!
“…But in the kitchen, there was nothing to see
Save an innocent-looking, complacent kitty!”
With iridescent eyes that said, ‘Twasn’t me.
Haha! I couldn’t help but add my own words.
It’s a lovely poem, Janet. I really enjoyed reading it.
I like your words, too. I’m happy you liked the poem and hope your Christmas is wonderful.
And a Merry Christmas to you. 🙂
I enjoyed it – and could see many more verses flowing. Merry Christmas!
Thanks and merry Christmas to you as well.
Truly delightful!
Wonderful, Janet! Indeed, it gave me some Christmas spirit. Have a wonderful holiday!
Great fun Janet! Loved it.
Dear Janet,
Cats don’t have owners; they have staff. Loved the poem and the way you captured the pure devilish delight cats take in destruction. Some cats just want to watch the world burn.
Have a Merry Christmas.
Aloha,
Doug
That’s very true, Doug, and staff on constant sufferance. 🙂 I’m happy you liked the poem. I cherish the thought of you being Santa and wish you a most blessed Christmas.
janet
Brilliant reworking of the poem. Hopefully the cat doesn’t leave “presents” for them to find too.
Me, too!! Glad you enjoyed it and I hope you enjoy your Christmas.
Loved your re-working of an old favourite. Nice and Christmassy
Have a Happy Christmas
Dee
Thanks. Merry Christmas to you and yours, too.
Excellent bit of seasonal poetry. Nicely done.
This actually happened to us and our cat–as I’m sure it has to anyone with a cat and a Christmas tree. Great take on the poem!
Here’s mine: http://unexpectedpaths.com/friday-fictioneers/bah-humbug/
It made me giggle, which is one of the best Christmas gifts a person can recieve. Thank you very much and have a blessed holiday.
That may be the least expensive gift I ever gave someone! 🙂 Have a blessed holiday, too.
Hi Janet,
Great, fun parody of the classic poem. Left me grinning like a Cheshire cat! Ron
BWG back at you, Ron. Thanks and I hope you smile all Christmas season.
Very nice!
Very well description of a cat let loose. Like the poetry.
From a poet, I value that compliment. Merry Christmas.
‘Just a jump-able distance away in the air.’ – such a great image. A lovely tale well written. 🙂
🙂 Thanks and a very merry Christmas to you.
That was brilliant. Just like a cat to play the cute card when things get messy.
They do do that, don’t they? Thanks for the lovely compliment. Have a wonderful Christmas.
u 2! 🙂
excellent job
I liked this. Well written and I like the rhythm. I actually felt like I was amid the clatter. Bravo.
Glad you enjoyed it, Tony. The original flows so well that I wanted my revision to do so, too. The hardest part was keeping the rhythm while getting down to 100 words!! Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Yeah, getting a poem to flow while you take parts out is like getting a tree to keep standing while you chop chunks from it…like in the old cartoons, remember? *Swing – Drop – Swing – Drop* …doesn’t look easy at all! Haha, Merry Christmas as well, to you, yours and theirs!
Awww. VERY cute. I like this, I really DO! You have a Merry Little Christmas as well!
Amazing. I loved it.
Great. Merry Christmas, Mari, and a happy 2013.
Merry Christmas to you too.
This is wonderful. Thanks for the laugh
You’re entirely welcome. Have a blessed Christmas.
That’s a perfect setting of a playground for a cat!
Cute story in the for of a poem.
Merry Christmas! 🙂
I liked the poem more than the original, lol, and the post-script was pretty funny too.
Thanks, Madison. It was fun writing it, too.
This was fun. Looks like you and I were on a similar wavelength this week 😉
Great minds, etc., etc. 🙂
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So very true, too!
Scott