A Little Christmas Poem

GINGER SNAPS

BY 

CORDELIA DINSMORE

It was practically Christmas and throughout the city, the only one stirring was one busy kitty. She’d planned many days for a holiday treat. One special and sweet for her children to eat.

When she knew beyond doubt that her babies were sleeping, as midnight was striking, she softly went creeping. Her kitchen was waiting with spicy supplies. She got right to work on her tasty surprise.

She scanned through her recipes searching with interest. Then found what she wanted while checking her Pinterest. She gathered ingredients fresh as new snow and mixed them together into a stiff dough.

As her rolling pin spun and she hummed a low tune, she flattened the dough, and then picked up her spoon. She carved a round head, added arms and two legs. To give it a luster, she brushed it with eggs.

Soon the air came alive with the scents of her baking. The gingerbread man in the oven was waking. Bright cinnamon eyes and broad licorice smile were getting quite warm on that cooking stone tile.

The mama cat put on her new oven mittens. With visions of joyful sounds from her kittens she opened the door to remove the small man, but squeaked in alarm when he jumped from the pan.

“I’m alive!” he exclaimed as he leaped to the table. “I’m off to explore the world now that I’m able. I’ll go far and near as I take in the sights. The Great Wall of China, the rare northern lights.”

She cried, “It’s a tasty confection you are, nothing more. I’ll stop you before you’re halfway to the door.”

He laughed as he shouted, “You’ll never catch me!” Then he tripped on the rolling pin, snapping his knee.

But the cat needn’t worry, her children were ready. They stalked the small morsel with steps slow and steady. They gobbled him up from his head to his feet. Then returned to their beds and dreamed dreams wild and sweet.