Begun circa 1984
Completed circa 1999
On the day that the dapple grey rocking horse came
Katy the girl said “Have you got a name?”
The rocking horse whispered it into her ear
The word that was only for Katy to hear
She listened and smiled, and Katy agreed
It was just the right name for a dapple-grey steed
It suited him nicely: But still all the same
She wanted to know how he got such a name
And she wanted to hear from the horse’s own mouth
About all his adventures before he came south
The rocking horse rocked in a rocking horse way
And breathed a soft horse purr, as much as to say
“I’m happy to tell you, but first let us ride”
So Katy the girl put a chair on one side
And she climbed on his back, and the horse tossed his mane
And away they went galloping over the plain
Katy rode like a queen without worries or fears
But she kept a good grip on his mane or his ears
And the rocking horse ran in a rocking horse way
Until he had run far enough for the day
He slowed to a canter, and then to a walk
And the dapple-grey rocking horse started to talk:
“Prrrrrr! That feels better. Did you enjoy that?
I like a good gallop – I’d hate to get fat
I’m a Christmas horse Katy. When I was a foal
I lived in the Christmas House, near the North Pole
With old Father Christmas, and snow bears and elves
And thousands of wonderful toys on the shelves
There was snow all around us and blizzard and storm
But we didn’t mind – we were cosy and warm
The big Christmas House is a magical place
And I like Father Christmas – he has a nice face
If the weather was good enough, out we would go
To play through the day in the deep drifts of snow
Or out on the ice rink – my favourite place
And nothing’s more fun than a rocking horse race
Our rockers slid smoothly, left glittering tracks
And the elves and the snow cubs would ride on our backs
When finally old Father Christmas came out
He’d laugh at our antics, and then he would shout:
‘You watch what you’re doing you mischievous elves –
I want to see all those toys back on the shelves!
They’re supposed to be presents – don’t you forget that!’
Then a very big snowball would take off his hat
So he’d laugh even louder and join in the fun
With the top of his head showing bare as a bun”
The rocking horse whinnied, rememb’ring the game
“But” Katy insisted “who gave you your name?”
“Have patience,” the horse said. “I’m getting to that
But you should have seen Santa without any hat!
T’was the week before Christmas, the best time of all
The Christmas Tree glowed in the great Christmas Hall
It’s a Pohutukawa, with shining red flowers
Which, just before Christmas, have magical powers
Elves sing to them softly and pick them with care
Then dance with green wreaths and red flowers in their hair
But the brightest and best of the flowers they weave
Into wonderful garlands, and each Christmas Eve
When old Santa’s Reindeer come to his call
The garlands are ready – enough for them all
As long as those garlands stay fresh and stay bright
The reindeer and sleigh have the power of flight
One fine afternoon, just a few days ago
It was time for our very last game in the snow
There were lots of goodbyes, because all of us toys
Were going with Santa to good girls and boys
But the elves and the snow bears would stay with the tree
An elf called Linerre came over to me:
‘Dapple Grey’ she said softly ‘You’ll soon have to fly
with Santa: Have this to remember me by
May it bring you good fortune wherever you fare’
Then she took off the flower she wore in her hair
(A Pohutukawa – the vividest red)
And she carefully tied it on top of my head
At once I was filled with a marvellous power
From my head to my tail, because of that flower
‘Do you feel like a ride, because I want to run?
‘Alright’ she agreed. ‘and it ought to be fun’
I was feeling as frisky and fresh as a foal
So I headed for Icecliff, behind the North Pole
When we got to the top, a platform of snow
Looking down on the Pole and the big house below
I felt full of daring and said to Linerre
‘Lets try out the ski-jump – it’s just over there!’
‘You’re the boss, Dapple-grey – I leave it to you’
So I dipped my head downward, and downward we flew
Down the sheer northern slope on the ski jumpers trail
I shot like a star with the wind in my tail
With her arms round my neck and my mane in her hair
Then outward and upward and into the air”
Katy leaned further forward and held her horse tight
“It was awesome!” he told her “My very first flight”
“Was it scary?” she wondered: “No way – not at all
It was magic – I never expected to fall
But I saw our friends watching wide-eyed from below
Which gave me the notion to put on a show.
I banked to the left, then banked to the right
Then dived on the nearest and gave them a fright
Then up, up and over, my first loop the loop
And down to the ice-rink with one final swoop
Straight over the crowd like a shaft from a bow
Till we touched down at last like a snowflake on snow
Right beside the big house, just outside the main doors
Then they cheered and they clapped and they yelled their applause”
Katy pictured the scene when her rocking horse flew
And she wondered if she could go sky-riding too
Could he fly with her now as he’d flown with Linerre
She searched in his mane – was the flower still there?
It was! A red blossom, still soft and still bright….
“Oh please – ” she implored him “can we have a flight?”
“I’m afraid that we can’t, which does seem a shame –
Remember you asked how I came by my name?
Well, I just had another adventure today
While coming to you in the magical sleigh
With Santa in front, and the sides painted red
And a team of fine reindeer harnessed ahead
Through the dark before dawn he was racing the sun
With his round of deliveries nearly all done
I think he gets tired – you know he’s not slim
And more and more children are waiting for him
Needing more and more presents (the list grows each year)
And sometimes, by morning, his eyes aren’t so clear
Which might not have mattered, but if you ask me
The sky’s not as safe as it once used to be
People used to slow down around Christmas Eve
It used to be sacred, or so I believe
They sang and hung stockings and then went to bed
But nowadays some of them leave home instead
Anyway, there we were, flying over the sea
At two in the morning, perhaps nearer three
And Santa was nodding, just starting to snore
When something went by with a terrible roar
I saw lighted windows – it went hurtling past
Like a hurricane, leaving us tossed in it’s blast
Our reindeer panicked, our sleigh overthrown
And poor Father Christmas – he fell like a stone
Calling up as he plummeted down toward the sea
‘Help! Somebody help!’ and it had to be me
With the Pohutukawa I just had a chance
So downward I dived with the speed of a lance
There he was – I could see him – I swooped to his aid
‘Hold on Father Christmas, and don’t be afraid’
‘Dapple Grey!’ he exclaimed ‘What are you doing here’
‘Hold onto my rockers’ I said, coming near
‘You seem to be flying, but how can that be?’
‘It’s Christmas Tree magic – just hold onto me’
He was too big to ride me, or I was too small
And it took all my magic to slow down his fall
I could feel it going, just draining away
But there, just below, were the reindeer and sleigh
And he dropped in his seat nearly skimming the sea
And I landed behind, and he turned round to me:
‘Well, Dapple’ he said ‘that water’s too cold
For a sleepy old fool – twenty centuries old
You’re a very good parachute’ (then Santa smiled)
And I’m taking you now to a very good child’
Then he rested his hand at the top of my mane
Just touching the flower ‘No need to explain
I was lucky today to have you at my side
Your new name is Parachute – bear it with pride’
And that’s the whole story – there’s no more to tell”
“I like it” she said – “and I like you as well”
“But I used up the flower when I slowed Santa’s fall…”
“It’s all right,” Katy told him – “I don’t mind at all”