.
Blanketing horses to keep them all warm,
They're eating their dinners, tucked in cozy stalls,
Not aware that it's Christmas, or any special day at all.
They can dream of spring pastures from their pine-scented beds,
No visions of sugarplums dance in their heads,
But we people are thinking of merry parties and such,
Maybe feeling a little sad at missing so much.
This season is special but the horses don't know,
We've got work to do before we can go,
We finish the chores and head on inside,
To get ready for dinner and our own yuletide.
It's nearly midnight, the carols are sung,
I remember a story I was told when I was young,
How at midnight on Christmas Eve,
The creatures of the barnyard can speak to us with ease.
I am called to the barn, I wade through the rain,
I know I must go, I can't really explain,
I slide open the door, pause for a while,
Then slowly walk down the dimly lit aisle.
A nicker from Sugar and Star, a wink from JB,
Sleepy old Blue waking to see,
Willy rustling his bedding, a snort soft and light,
Each horse gave a greeting as I walked through the night.
I thought about parties, bright lit and warm,
The ones we don't go to 'cause we have the barn,
And vacations and holidays that we don't get,
When we're working long hours for bills to be met.
Walking all the way to the end of the aisle,
I stop to stroke Heart, it brings me a smile,
She snuffles my face, hot breath on my skin,
It starts me to thinking about my horse, my kin.
I could be at parties with laughter and mirth,
But where I am right now is the best place on Earth.
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for Ginger & Whiskey
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