‘Twas the blogger’s night before Christmas
[NOTE: This small poetic effort of mine has become somewhat of a holiday tradition at the blog. So here it comes again—just like the holiday itself. Merry Christmas Eve to you all!]
‘TWAS THE BLOGGER’S NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the ‘sphere
Bloggers were glad to see Christmas draw near.
Their laptops were turned off and all put away
The bloggers were swearing to take off the day.
Their children were nestled all snug in their beds
While visions of extra time danced in their heads
With a father or mom not distracted by writing
No posts to compose, and no links to be citing.
But we all know that vows were just meant to be broken
And the vows of a blogger can be a mere token.
There’s always a chance that some sort of temptation
Will rise up to make them of fleeting duration.
For instance, there might be found under the tree
A sleek Mac; well, what better sight could there be?
And who could neglect it and wait the whole day?
It cries to be tried out, one just can’t delay.
Or maybe somewhere there’s a fast-breaking story
Important, and possibly leading to glory.
It can’t be ignored, there’s really no choice,
So add to the din every blogger’s small voice.
And then there are some who may just like to rhyme
(I’m one who at times must confess to this crime),
And it’s been quite a while since Clement Clarke Moore
Wrote his opus (though authorship’s been claimed by Gore).
So it seems about time it was newly updated
And here’s my attempt – aren’t you glad you all waited?
Forgive if it sounds a bit awkward to read.
In writing, I set a new record for speed.
I had to get under the wire and compose it
Before Christmas Day. Now it’s time that I close it.
But let me exclaim (or, rather, I’ll write)
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!
Here’s a video of the original, with some 50s-type nostalgia for those who remember. There are a few odd anomalies (“safe in their beds” instead of “snug in their beds”). But it brought back memories of pincurls, and the days when parents were assumed to sleep in twin beds (even though I don’t recall that most people did).
I think I had the book on which this is based. The illustrations look very familiar:
Merry Christmas, everyone.
I cant do all this work myself.
Off to family Christmas Eve Services with the kids and grandkids. So …
Twas the night before Christmas
( sorry for the weird formatting)
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house?Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;?The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,?In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,?While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;?And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,?Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap,
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 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,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,?I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
?More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,?And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
“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 coursers they flew,?With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof?The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
?As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,?Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,?And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;?A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,?And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes — how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!?His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!?His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,?And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,?And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;?He had a broad face and a little round belly,?That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,?And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;?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 filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,?And laying his finger aside of his nose,?And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,?And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
?But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,?HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!
– Clement Clarke Moore
You are wonderful. It is worth all the bulls11!@ thank you.
Merry Christmas or Blessed Hanukkah to those for whom the season has special significance.
Happy Holidays to all.
Let’s rise to offer an early toast to a victorious 2020.
When I was a child, my school chorus sang a version of the Fred Waring arrangement of this poem. I can remember (and sing) the whole thing! It’s how I can still recite the names of all the reindeer. 🙂 The original (Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPPltRf2tfo
Merry Christmas to all!
You know. I tried for twenty years to get revenge for 911. I tried for nearly 20 years for the Jordanian pilot.
I remain disgusted
Merry xmas all, happy hannukah
Everybody. Attending family party with with 6 youngsters, all girls! Lots of squeals! Love it !
Merry Christmas Neo
MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND HAPPY HANUKKAH!
I remain disgusted. But I remain. When I was part of the training battle group I always put in a question about a weapon or rendering first aid. Not their full time job but they had to be ready for everything.
That was my job
A Christmas Miracle! Solar Cycle 25 has begun with the discovery of sunspots. Here’s to a return to sun-filled summers!
https://nextgrandminimum.com/2019/12/24/two-sunspots-from-the-next-solar-cycle/
I am a life saver. I am not a a taggart. Like I said I don’t know how my dad the sainted senior chief didn’t end up a red smear on a white coast guard hull. (Next step).
My uncle was a battalion chief in a fire department in a major west coast city. Every Marine is a rifleman. I am sure all the Marines commenting here will take issue.
But my Marine Corps Drill Instructors made sure I was Marine Corps trained. H3ll I still remember the bodies.
I am going to stop now. I am probably a better shot with rifle and pistol than your average Marine. I know I am a better fire fighter. And a better EMT. Because I worked at it.
Out to 6 hundred yards. After that I don’t know. But I can reliably hit your head at that distance. As long as I am not shooting from the bounding deck of a destroyer.
Ever hear of Gunnery Seargeant Carlos Hathcock?
I am working from my cell phone. Look up USS Savanah (light cruiser, CL 42). Salerno 11 Sep 1943.
That would be a death blow in any other Navy. But we are that good. The crew brought her back to Italy and she was back in combat 4 months later.
You are welcome
Savannah. I am probably not spelling it right.
Wonderful Neo, Merry Christmas to all.
My sis and I had the Perry Como version on a 45rpm record with an accompanying book. And I had a beautiful version of the book that I loved to look through but it was lost in a flood in the 60’s. I have searched high and low for a copy of it to no avail. However, I have a nice collection of other versions of the book that my grandkids enjoy.
Dear Neo,
I enjoy your poem very much: Good! :>)) and it actually scans! (although I believe that the two “it”s beginning the final stanza are a slight, very slight, misstep).
Bless your heart for it. 😀
And for the video. Memories….
.
And to all, Merry Day-after-Christmas, May You Never Run Out of Candles, Happy Boxing Day, Happy Winter Solstice Week, Season’s Greetings, and if I missed something please add it to the list.
May all of you and yours enjoy a wonderful Holiday.