‘Twas the night before Christmas...in New York...
‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through my flat
Not a creature was stirring, not even a rat
The lights were strung in the window with care
For the next day my family would gather there
My cats were all nestled at the foot of the bed
While visions of songbirds danced in their heads
And I in my Pj’s and my man in his shorts
Had just settled down for a nap of sorts
When out in the stairwell there arose such a clatter
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter
Away to the peephole I flew with a flashlight
I had heard that robbers were out robbing that night
By yellowish glow of the incandescent light
I saw what was out there and it banished my fright
When what to my wondering eyes should appear?
But a little fat man and 8 tiny reindeer!
Through a champagne fog, my vision was hazy
I thought for moment that I must be crazy
“Now Dasher, now Dancer now Prancer and Vixen
On Comet on Cupid on Donder and Blitzen!”
Oh, alas, these steel doors we’re stuck in the hall!
How do we get these presents to all!”
As dry leaves before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky
So up to the roof the reindeer they flew
With the bags full of toys, and St. Nicolas too.
As I drew back my eye, and was turning around,
Through the window St. Nicolas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur from his head to his feet
He was dirty with smog and wet from the sleet
A bundle of presents he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler opening his sack.
His eyes, how they twinkled! His dimples, How merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry.
He didn’t seem to be feeling much pain,
I think that, like me, he had hit the champagne.
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
He had a broad face, and a little round belly
That shook when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly
Now, I live in New York, and there’s one thing I know
If you see a celebrity don’t make a show
Just act nonchalant and don’t look them in the eye
But text all your friends as soon as he walks by.
But I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself
For he was chubby and plump – a right jolly old elf
A wink of his eye, and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work
And arranged all the presents, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger by the side of his nose
And giving a nod, out the window he rose
As often as we are stuck to earth in the day
Night is for dreaming and I’d like to say
That magic is real, and I saw it last year
What I have told you is true, heard with my own ears
Santa himself to his team gave a whistle
And I saw as they flew like the down of a thistle
Over the river and the glow of Times Square
To another apartment, I couldn’t tell you where
So tomorrow as you’re sleeping, don’t sleep too deep
Or you’ll miss Santa’s wishes, and the magic they keep
As you hear him exclaim as he flies out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night!”
Re-written by Lee Ann Westover
Not a creature was stirring, not even a rat
The lights were strung in the window with care
For the next day my family would gather there
My cats were all nestled at the foot of the bed
While visions of songbirds danced in their heads
And I in my Pj’s and my man in his shorts
Had just settled down for a nap of sorts
When out in the stairwell there arose such a clatter
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter
Away to the peephole I flew with a flashlight
I had heard that robbers were out robbing that night
By yellowish glow of the incandescent light
I saw what was out there and it banished my fright
When what to my wondering eyes should appear?
But a little fat man and 8 tiny reindeer!
Through a champagne fog, my vision was hazy
I thought for moment that I must be crazy
“Now Dasher, now Dancer now Prancer and Vixen
On Comet on Cupid on Donder and Blitzen!”
Oh, alas, these steel doors we’re stuck in the hall!
How do we get these presents to all!”
As dry leaves before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky
So up to the roof the reindeer they flew
With the bags full of toys, and St. Nicolas too.
As I drew back my eye, and was turning around,
Through the window St. Nicolas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur from his head to his feet
He was dirty with smog and wet from the sleet
A bundle of presents he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler opening his sack.
His eyes, how they twinkled! His dimples, How merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry.
He didn’t seem to be feeling much pain,
I think that, like me, he had hit the champagne.
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
He had a broad face, and a little round belly
That shook when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly
Now, I live in New York, and there’s one thing I know
If you see a celebrity don’t make a show
Just act nonchalant and don’t look them in the eye
But text all your friends as soon as he walks by.
But I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself
For he was chubby and plump – a right jolly old elf
A wink of his eye, and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work
And arranged all the presents, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger by the side of his nose
And giving a nod, out the window he rose
As often as we are stuck to earth in the day
Night is for dreaming and I’d like to say
That magic is real, and I saw it last year
What I have told you is true, heard with my own ears
Santa himself to his team gave a whistle
And I saw as they flew like the down of a thistle
Over the river and the glow of Times Square
To another apartment, I couldn’t tell you where
So tomorrow as you’re sleeping, don’t sleep too deep
Or you’ll miss Santa’s wishes, and the magic they keep
As you hear him exclaim as he flies out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night!”
Re-written by Lee Ann Westover
posted by Lee Ann at 12:31 PM
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