'Twas the Night Before Christmas, and deep in the flat
A Basenji was sleeping, Thank heaven for that
A stocking was hung near him with care
And he knew that Santa Paws soon would be there
And I was there too, snuggled deep in my bed
And the thought of my little dog ran through my head
How he came to me, just three years before
And the havoc he'd caused, with each tiny paw
The things that he'd eaten, the wires he'd chewed
Of the language I'd used (some really quite rude…)
Of the clothes that were ruined, of the pens that I'd lost
Of my bank account vanishing, on what he had cost...
He'd eaten the Sat Nav - I still don't know how
But at least he's not saying 'Please turn around now'
For dinner he gets his fresh air-dried deer
For his owner? Nice cheese sandwich here
Then I went on to remember the sweet little pup
That came here to live, to fill up our cup
And the night that we lost her, how hard that I cried
And how only days later, my dearest friend died
As I lay there thus musing, I heard such a row
That I sprang from my bed, thinking "Oh no, what now?!"
But Butu was quiet, his eyes open wide
As he gazed at the apparition who was now inside
It had a red and white coat, but also big ears
And big almond eyes, that banished our fears
How did it get in? We'd locked all the doors
But we knew who it was - our own Santa Paws
He said "Butu, my boy - I've looked at my list
You haven't been good, but you're hard to resist
Rosettes you have won, and love you have shown
And this human person calls you her own
You argue like fury, but each really knows,
You'll be bereft when the other one goes
So cherish each other and treasure your times
And, Min, you forgive him for his little crimes"
Santa Paws was so right, the year has been sad
But how could I have borne it, without my lad?
So to all of our friends - with four legs or two
From Butu and me - Merry Christmas to you!
That was so funny and sweet and touching– all at once. Thanks for sharing it! As a writer, my hat's off to you!
Merry Christmas to you both, and tell Butu not to feel bad-- Ava hasn't been good, either (and I don't even think she's tried very hard). But we love them and their naughty ways and would be lost without them. (Well, maybe not Butu-- he has the Sat Nav.) 
How very, very lovely. And you are right, we've all had losses in 2013. Here's hoping 2014 is better for all of us.
peace.
Wonderful! Thank you. And Merry Christmas.
Very clever, love it. Merry Christmas.
Jolanda and Kaiser
