Thursday, December 24, 2009

Twas the Night Before Christmas.....


THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
by Clement Clarke Moore
or Henry Livingston

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even an EAGLE

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, Donder 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 head, 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."

13 comments:

valerie said...

Thank you for the smile and the image CB.. Christmas Blessings for you and your family
Valerie

Carlisleboy said...

Thanks Val!
Good to see you back.

Don the Canadian eh said...

Hey CB,I dropped you a email earlier in the week.In case it didn,t make just want to say thanks again for your blog,really enjoy the read and all the fantastic pics,Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!! CHEERS!!!!

Kimi said...

god jul og godt nyttår Thank you for that. I'm gonna cut and paste it so my kids can read it. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! HUGS!!!

amulbunny's random thoughts said...

Have a very Merry Christmas and thank you for sharing your views of Dutch Harbor. Those of us down in the wilds of Southern CA can't imagine those dark days of winter. I hope you celebrated the solstice with a glass of mulled wine to welcome the coming of the sun.

Mary C said...

Thanks Brian...Merry Christmas to you too!!!

mamawas said...

Great children's poem that as children we all heard and those of us that have offspring read to them. I have a collection of over 20 print/illustrated versions of this poem that my students enjoy in the days before Christmas. The pop-up books are always a student favorite (and these students are teens!!!)
Merry Christmas
DOnna

hobo said...

Thank you for all the updates & pics throughout the year. I wish you a very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year, CB!!

Anonymous said...

thank you...may you and yours have a happy and healthy christmas and new year...

Margrita said...

Thank you for your wonderful blog CB with all your gorgeous pictures.

Christmas is a time of peace, a time of joy and a time of warmth, but it is also a time to reflect upon how fortunate we are, and how thankful we should be for all the good things in our lives, from the love and support of our families and friends to the simple acts of kindness given by strangers.
This holiday season, I would like to wish you a Christmas from which warm and cherished memories are made. From my house to yours, have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year CB!!

CB'S LITTLE SIS said...

I love the Amber Benson gift!! She is sooooo COOL! THANK YOU!

Reading said...

Perfect pics for the story...Merry Christmas...

Alaska Steve said...

Merry Christmas from Steve, Goldfish & Chico!