Benjy
It’s a cold night in the dogs home
Snow is on the ground
Christmas time is here again
so lonely for a hound
Kids want dogs for presents
but the novelty doesn’t last
so once here in this kennel
life can fade out fast
Benjy sits alone and thinks
of the people that pass by
looking for a family pet
and he just wonders why
He’s the one that no one wants
that barks and wags his tail a lot
tries to lick them through the cage
to show them what he’s got
To offer in affection
and always be on hand
to help protect and keep them safe
from the bad people in the land
Benjy’s a German Shepherd dog
he knows he’s rather large and ferocious
and needs a special owner
because he can be quite precocious
Another dawn, another day
he’s thinking to himself
just like another children’s toy
left upon the shelf
A door creaks open down the end
of the kennel row he’s in
a few more people to have a look
at what state the dogs are in
The open door lets in some snow
it just comes in to gloat
not much to keep him warm at all
only his fur coat
The family pass him by so fast
they didn’t look at all
or so he thought, this time he was wrong
perhaps God heard his call
A little girl and boy came back
said mummy this one’s nice
this comment perked him up no end
he thought I cost no price
But mummy said he’s rather large
we know they said, but think of it
he will protect us while daddy is away
and this made her think a bit
Can we see him better
perhaps we can take him for a walk
but Benjy had been there before
he knew it was only talk
On his best behaviour
he woofed to say hello
long time since he had arms around him
since he played out in the snow
Been in and out of families
for many, many years
no one ever realizes
that even a dogs can still shed tears
Now six or seven years of age
no one really knows
the pain and heartache of being neglected
sometimes never shows
The children were excited
they kept him on his toes
playing running, jumping about
rolling in the snow
Back at the kennel the mother said
we will take him for a week
to see how he behaves himself
then looked back to take a peek
To late to see the children in the snow
their faces a joy to see
come on Benjy said the mum
your coming home with me
Benjy sat and pondered
there was a God for dogs after all
the months he had sat and waited
for some kind family to call
Jenny the kennel maid gave him a pat
said well old friend its time to go
so off they went so happily
leaving footprints in the snow
But this time it was different
because showing by their side
were some quite large paw marks
from the dog that sometimes cried
Zippo
Franco the toymaker was busy at work
it’s Christmas so no time to shirk
making things for the girls and boys
in his shop to fill with toys
Dolls, Trains all sorts of things
he knows all the joy it brings
at this time of year, the special season
this religious time, we all know the reason
Hard at work throughout the day
many people come his way
into his shop and they will buy
that special present
for their children to enjoy
Late that night as he was closing
his thoughts were many
and he was supposing
what was next that he should make
there was so much for goodness sake
He looked around, just not enough
to go round, life was so tough
he felt a pain in his chest
made him grab his bright red vest
To the floor he fell so fast
he thought the feeling wouldn’t last
now passed out caused by his fall
fortunately Mrs Grimble
passing had seen it all
The Doctor came, your confined to bed
but my toys Franc said
the children, they will understand
so just you rest that’s what I demand
That night while Franco was fast asleep
from out of one eye a toy did peep
Zippo the Clown was wide awake
this couldn’t happen for goodness sake
Hey wake up he shouted loud
disturbing all the sleeping crowd
other toys began to stir
suddenly lathes began to whir
Standing over Franco’s bed
an Angel raised her pretty head
I’m here to help someone so good
so the toys will be made
just like they should
My little helpers will save the day
you deserve all the help
that comes your way
always there for the hard up and the poor
now its time to repay that heart of yours
All night long toys slaved away
making friends to save the day
all the shelves were full plenty for all
now we’ve answered the Angels call
So Zippo sat back quite contented
looked at the toys his friends had invented
Christmas would be just as before
with folks coming through the door
To see the children’s faces as they perused
all the toys, looking excited and bemused
was all the Angel and her friends required
and to save Franc from getting so tired
In the morning when he awoke
pain now gone, got up, gave the fire a poke
in the workshop he was surrounded
stood aghast, just plain dumfounded
All these toys don’t remember these
but the children I now can please
through the window he saw the snow
in the Christmas lights it was quite a show
Turned the door sign to say open
another day , like others often
never knew what took place that night
his Angel coming and bringing the light
That lit up his life for many years
so to bring children laughter
wiping away their tears
Zippo and his helpers just sat and pondered
about Christmas day, they really wondered
Who would buy them, take them home
to be played with
or would they remain alone
but would always remember
when Franco nearly died
the night they sat round and cried
Thanks to the Angel who brought them life
to aid poor Franco and save his life
all that remained so long ago
some unexplained footsteps in the snow