Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house,
Only Mylo was stirring, he was looking for a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there. CLICK
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar cookies danced in their heads.
And mamma in her kimono and I in my cap,
Had just popped a cork for a little night cap. CLICK
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The full moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer. CLICK
With a pack of drivers, so lively and quick,
I thought at once one must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles the reindeer they came,
They whistled, and shouted, and called them by name! CLICK
“Now Dasher! now Dancer! now Prancer and Vixen!
On Comet! On Cupid!, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the reindeer they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, St Nicholas and Elves too. CLICK
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas’s elves came with a bound.
They were dressed all in fur, from head to foot,
Their coats were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys each carried in a sack,
They all looked like peddlers about to open a pack.
Their eyes-how they twinkled! their dimples how merry!
Their cheeks were like roses, each nose like a cherry!
Their packages were all wrapped, each topped with a bow,
And they smelled like cats and dogs that had been caught in the snow. CLICK
They’d been drinking red wine, I could tell by their teeth
And it looked like one of them may have wrestled with a wreath.
They headed for the wine I had planned for my belly,
That drank it all down and moved on to the peanut butter and jelly! CLICK
Each was chubby and plump, each a right jolly elf,
And I laughed when I saw them, in spite of myself!
The closest one winked his eye then twisted his head,
And I soon understood I had nothing to dread.
They spoke not a word, but went straight to their work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
They laid their paws upon each other’s nose,
Each gave a nod, and up the chimney they rose!
They sprang to their sleigh, to their team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard them exclaim, ‘ere they drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”
– original poem written by Clement Clarke Moore (1779-1863) — I — um — took a few liberties…….