The night before Christmas had come round again
The world had changed and the cats knew it
Things had hurt their loved ones
Many had made their path to the bridge before their time
Still she sat again waiting
Her hand moved to the chain and grasped the key
Come she said and show the new ones the way my loves
They purred and writhed around her feet
On the night before Christmas
She knew the way now
Rainbow joined her his fur shimmering and glowing
They walked together leading the mass of cats
Every colour and type and their humans recently joined
They looked unsure and their sadness was tangible
They were shadows
They fell in line
On the Night before Christmas
Rainbow reached up and took the key in his paw
At midnight the gate and the lock glowed with a beautiful light
The key was turned and the gate swung open
The golden light shone and enclosed them all in its warmth
The sadness was erased from the faces of the newbies
On the night before Christmas
This year he wasn’t at the front.
Lupin lingered long and watched the newbies stream forward
He understood their need was urgent
He gave of himself because he knew what the pain was
And he knew that the first year held the most precious and urgent needs
She saw him and smiled with love and pride
She saw he had grown in himself and she saw he was loved
She held him and they exchanged their love again
Him blissful and her content in the knowledge that he was happy
There were no words
On the night before Christmas
For what seemed like forever they streamed through
And loved ones were united and they shared their tales
In this time they were renewed and the sadness was dimmed
Until Rainbow called that it was time to close the gate.
Some cried a little but they knew it would not be long
Till the next time they would share their love
She bent down and caressed him one last time
Come back next year Lupin and all your friends
On the night before Christmas
