The Night Before Christmas-Revisited:

"On Dasher and Dancer, Comet and Cupid"...eight tiny reindeer? Doesn't that sound stupid? Pulling a sleigh 'round the world in one night? Only can happen at the speed of light. Santa would fry due to friction...but not to worry, he's only fiction' Mother and I were set for the night-tucked into bed- now turn off the light. We heard a noise on our rooftop,Thunk thunk,thud"-would it ever stop? What happened next (believe me. it's true), The rafters gave way and he crashed through. A fat foolish man in a red suit. And he lugged a very huge bag of loot' He got ashes and snow all over the floor. I don't understand why he didn't use the door' Pulling his pipe, he polluted the air, I asked him to stop, but he didn't care. Handing me a tie made of pure silk, then he demanded,"Where's the cookies and milk?" Everyone leaves him treats every year (occasionally something for the reindeer). Since his demand had no effect on me, he turned around knocking over the tree. Hours of work in an instant undone, but no time to re-trim it before morning's sun, I told him to return from whence he came and not bother coming again' He said all this junk was just meant to please us, but I told him he only needs Jesus. I told him the Lord meets all my needs. He said, "Yes, but I pander to greed." I said my children, myself, and my wife had received the best gift- eternal life' When this earthly race is done, we'll reside forever with God and His Son. I could see his eyes fill with fear. 'Finally he said, " Man, I'm outa here." He speedily left to cover the Earth, for he found that our home celebrates the Saviours birth. As I survey our visitors mess, I can only say, "Merry Christmas and God Bless." Arthur Ball (H.S.L.P.) December 25, 1995* (The first serious poem that I ever wrote, Pretty funny cause it's not so serious, but again it is serious.) Robert A. Ball