Twas the night before Christmas
and all through the igloo,
Not a creature was stirring,
not a bark, not a woo.

The Malamutes were tethered
and curled in the snow,
While above them the aurora
shimmered and glowed.

When out on the pack ice
there arose such a clatter,
All sprang to their feet
to see what was the matter.

And what should they see
but a desperate St. Nicholas,
His reindeer were gone,
his sleigh stood motionless.

The presents were packed,
His list was complete,
What to do, what to do,
He had a schedule to meet.

All over the world
it was Christmas Eve,
And the children waited,
and the children believed,

That Santa would come
in this magical night,
Leaving presents for all,
that would please and delight.

The Malamutes shook
the snow from their coats,
Take us, they cried,
we're ready to go.

Down the picket line he went,
calling each dog by name,
Come Balto, come Shag,
this night's not in vain.

Come Cubby, come Pip,
and Alberta too,
Come Penny, come Whisper,
and Miska, I need you.

Without further ado,
he went straight to work,
And soon they were harnessed,
and sounding berserk.

From his pack he withdrew
a small silver vial,
And sprinkling each dog,
he said with a smile,

This dust from the stars,
and the Milky Way,
Will let you fly
and pull my sleigh.

The dogs were ready,
the time had come,
It was Christmas Eve,
the journey begun.

And I heard him say,
as they sprang to flight,
Merry Christmas to all,
and to all, a good night.

-December, 1996