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‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
Or an account of a visit from St. Nicholas
with apologies to
Major Henry Livingston, Jr. (1748-1828)
(previously believed to have been written by Clement Clarke Moore)
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the warehouse,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a stage mouse;
The props were put away, the flats stacked with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
The Board Members were nestled, all snug in their beds,
while visions of theater shows raced thru their heads.
And Bill with the checkbook, and Becky with the minutes of a meeting,
Had just settled down for a moment of rest, usually quite fleeting.
When out in front of the Costume Room there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the Organizational Room to see what was the matter.
Away to the front windows I flew like a flash,
and pulled back Duane’s curtains, and pulled down the sash.
The lights on the window display boxes shown on the pavement tar,
Giving an eerie, glowing luster to the Hess gas station across the street afar ,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.
With a little old driver, reminiscent of Stan Stark,
Hollering “What! What!”, and looking to park.
More rapid than a set change, his sleigh pullers they came,
and he whistled and cursed, 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 marquee, to the top of the warehouse,
Now emote, emote, and watch out for the stage mouse!
And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof,
St. Nick complaining, “Charlie made another goof!”,
As I drew closed the curtain, and was turning around,
Thru the roll-up door, St . Nicholas came with a bound.
He was costumed in fur, from his head to his foot,
and his clothes were all covered with set construction sawdust and soot,
A bundle of scripts he had flung in the bag on his back,
a gift for Suzanne, more script readings to attack.
His eyes, how they twinkled! his dimples how merry.
Becky had worked her magic, and his bald spot was hairy!
His cheeks were highlighted, his forehead was powder puffed,
and the front of his coat was obviously stuffed!
The stump of a prop pipe he held tight in his teeth,
and the dry-ice smoke encircled his body and beneath;
He held tight onto a stage mike and transmitter,
In hopes his lines would be heard by every critter.
He was dressed all in red, and seemed very merry,
His attractive costume was obviously sewn by Sherry.
In a hurry, he had to be back at the North Pole by morn,
he completed and gave me a Seussical audition form.
“Wish I could visit, but I’ve got to get busy”,
“This stop has sent my schedule into a tizzy!”
He nodded to me, and by the light of the moon,
reminded me to lock up securely, or face the wrath of June!
He sprang to his sleigh, and dodging junk cars,
Flew into the night, as I watched through the window bars.
But I heard him shout, as he drove out of sight,
“MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL GOOD NIGHT!”
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HAVE A WONDERFUL AND PEACEFUL HOLIDAY!!!
Charlie |
