"The Night Before Christmas...a grandparents tale"

Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The house was decked out, the porch lit up bright,
We’d put up our feet for a long silent night.

When, out on the lawn there arose such a clatter
We sprang from our chairs to see what was the matter.
Away to the window we flew like a flash,
Tore open the blinds and looked through the glass.

The moon on the crest of our driveway below
Gave a luster supplied by electrical glow.
When, what to our wondering eyes should appear,
But three mini-vans, a Honda, and a Suburban out there!

More rapid than beagles the grandchildren came,
And we whistled and shouted and called them by name:
Now Jared! Now Nathan! Now Jacob & Ben!
On Ali, On Tyler, On Kaelie Christine!

Come Natalie, Ashley, Emma & Katelyn!
Andrew & Avery & Audrey Lurleen!
To the top of the porch to the top of the hall,
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 the children they flew,
With Toby & Molly, the grand-dogs, too!

They were dressed in pajamas from their heads to their feet,
And they begged us for candy and other sweet treats,
A bundle of toys we had hidden out back
And we brought it all out fearing frontal attack.

Their eyes—how they twinkled! Their dimples, how merry!
Their cheeks were like roses, their noses like cherries!
Their droll little mouths were drawn up like bright bows,
And their faces lit up like candles aglow!

They were chubby and plump, like good little elves,
And we laughed when we saw them, in spite of ourselves.
They opened their gifts and filled up their bellies
That shook when they laughed, like bowls full of jelly.

Then they sprang to their feet, as their parents gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like a guided missile,
And we heard them exclaim, ‘ere they drove out of sight,
“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

~ Christmas 2008