Odin

’Twas the Night Before Gentling (Meatball Edition)

’Twas the night before gentling, in a barn falling down,

With splinters and cobwebs and boards quite unsound.

The place was condemned (or so rumors have said),

Yet three giant horses have made it their bed.

Rocky stayed hidden, shy as could be,

Peeking from corners like, “Don’t look at me.”

But Titan the meatball rolled up with a thud,

All round and all stubborn and covered in mud.

He stomped and he splashed and wouldn’t abort

Blocking the doorway just for the sport.

“If I don’t move,” he seemed smugly did say,

“No one gets through here—meatball holds sway.”

But Odin, sweet Odin, our hero of tale,

Once haunted by shadows that made his heart pale,

Now lay on a bed of wheat straw so neat,

Hand-crafted by Susans (two of them!)—how sweet.

The Susans were older and wise as the land,

They spoke soft as snowfall and offered a hand.

And Odin, who once would have bolted in fear,

Stepped up and thought, “Hey… these humans seem dear.”

He ate from their hand—yes, and even stayed calm!

The barn gasped collectively (Athena released a bomb).

Rocky blinked twice. “Is Odin more secure?”

Titan muttered, “Applause may be premature.”

Into the gentling pen Odin now stood,

With the Susan’s nearby (which is very good!).

No panic, no flailing, no dramatic neigh—

Just Odin in tight quarters thinking, “Can I do this today?”

Then enter Butch, with panels galore,

Building round pens like he’d done it before.

He clicked gates together, stepped back with a grin,

“And soon,” said Butch, “we’ll try a join-up ya’ know, touch skin.”

Titan the meatball rolled closer to stare,

Offering commentary no one asked him to share.

“I could do that join-up,” he claimed with a snort,

Then planted his feet like “I choose to – abort.”

Rocky politely faded from view,

While Odin stood taller, brave, steady, and true.

From bucking to trust, from fear into choice,

He found a new strength—and even his voice.

And heard in the barn as the night settled tight,

Not sleigh bells, but munching and meatball delight:

Odin proclaiming, “Humans are okay…the hay is just right

Merry gentling to all—(another peppermint for me) and to all a good night.”