'Twas the Night Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house,
one creature was stirring; just me, not the spouse.
The stockings were hung, the presents were wrapped,
the baby was sleeping, and so was the cat.

The monster was snuggled, all warm in his bed,
as bottles of milk, surely danced in his head.
Little Kitty in her PJ's, and me in my own,
her sleeping, I waking, shivering of cold.

When out on the windows, there arose such a clatter,
I wondered to myself "Such wind, how it batters!"
Yet towards the window I went anyway,
to look at the end of this cold winter's day.

And as I sat thinking, a noise filled the air!
The baby was screaming, and I soon was there.
And just as I had gotten him to sleep,
came the jingling of bells, and his waking from dream.

He stirred! It was close! Then he fell back asleep.
Santa would live, I would give him no grief.
And then, ever faintly, I heard a faint voice,
Calling the names of small girls and boys.

"Now Haden, now Jacey, now Aubrey, now Jensen!
and Alex and Evan and Jackson and all kids!
You've been good boys and girls, so presents for all!
To dash with and play with and have fun through fall!"

Then he shot to each roof and through each chimney he went,
and for those without, he went through the vent.
For each little child he dropped lots of toys,
and from each these, received his own joy.

And then on the roof oh! What did I hear?
but the pawing and prancing of eight reindeer!
So I peeked down the stairs, in a ninja-like way,
and saw old man Santa (trailing some hay).

He was dressed all in fur, and PETA was mad,
for Santa had never been a part of their fad.
And the bundle of toys that he had on his back,
now beeped and whirred and glowed and zapped.

"It's not like the old days," he said with a laugh.
"Every year those elves have to learn a new craft!
Electronics and gizmos and gadgets and such,
Why back in my day, our toys weren't so much!"

But as he lit up his pipe his eyes twinkled and shone,
and he grinned and he giggled and then he bellowed.
"No, kids these days, they're sure not the same,
but one thing's not changed, they believe in my sleigh!"

Then I couldn't help but chime, "Santa how can you say?
That though things have changed they are so much the same?"
Then he turned and he laughed and he said "Dear old lad,
you once came to think that I was your dad!"

"Yet here I stand, and just plain as day,
you can see me and touch me, and even this hay!
I never really left, my spirit lives on,
it's how we teach our kids dreams and so on!

"So remember this night, oh young little dad,
and teach your young boy to give and be glad!"
Then he twinkled and hopped, and went out of site,
and I heard him take off, I saw him take flight!

Off like a rocket so fast he did go,
and falling behind him came flakes of snow.
And I heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight,
"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"