Notes About The Poem

For Joseph May's The Night Before - 4 Poetry Contest

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Twas the Night Before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas at Muscatine Mall.
There to see Santa, Sis was in a thrall.
At only age six, she still believed that
our Christmas gifts came from a guy old and fat:

A man in a red hat with beard long and white
who gave many kids their gifts in one night
by driving a sleigh way up in the sky
and sliding down chimneys. How spry IS that guy?

Mom kept the lie going, but was that wrong?
My sister was glad, so I just went along.
How lame the logic of children so young.
To not spoil her fun, I just held my tongue.

The mall’s Santa would in a while be gone,
but Sis still wanted his lap to sit on.
At last twas her turn. So eager was she
she chatted away as she sat on his knee.

She asked her dear Santa for a cell phone.
Bet he was dying to be left alone!
With a Ho Ho Ho, he bid us farewell.
I took sister’s hand, and we left pell-mell.

Last-minute shoppers we both hurried through,
I looked at them thinking: What’s wrong with you?
You’ll be up all night with things you bought late.
A whole lot of wrapping you’ve got on your plate!

Baby sister felt glad. Once in the car,
I looked at the sky and saw a bright star,
reminding me of when there had appeared
a new star when a special birth had neared.

While driving along, I looked up again,
thinking of Jesus and young shepherd men
who’d looked to the sky and heard angels sing
their praises to One who who was born the new King.

Sis started singing the song “Silent Night.”
I sang along. Then what came into sight?
My sister and I will swear to this day
twelve reindeer above flew guiding a sleigh.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2024

Poem

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Onclaud Avatar
December 22, 2024 at 5:06 PM
the story is simply fascinating , andie-- childlike as well ---where every person's wish to watch an old, ho- ho guy slide high in the sky! sweet congrats on your stunning win! huggs
May Avatar
December 22, 2024 at 7:24 AM
I love how you ending this Christmas story Andrea, Congrats on your win, Merry Christmas!
Healey Avatar
December 21, 2024 at 7:42 AM
Congrats on the win, Andrea. Have a safe and merry Christmas. Take care. Jim
DiMino Avatar
November 30, 2024 at 10:17 PM
Delightful! Never would have happened, had the Mall not closed -- unless it was one of those new driverless sleighs? First collision with an old Model-T and Hollywood will out law them. Dick Van Dyke is not that forgiving. That was his flick wasn't it?:) You are very creative. A fun work to read. Blessings.
Hind Avatar
November 30, 2024 at 11:53 AM
Oh, this is cute and fun! I loved it - :) <3
Read Avatar
November 30, 2024 at 8:53 AM
Hi Andrea that was such a sweet story, I've now started believing in Santa once again lol. xx
Dietrich Avatar
November 30, 2024 at 10:33 AM
Thanks, John
Empress Avatar
November 30, 2024 at 5:48 AM
Thats a really beautiful ending, is this based on a true story? Your poems are always so engaging and keeps me going hooked till the end! You do that very well! You have a storyteller in you too somewhere which is impressive cus you can do any theme and form so effortlessly! Iv seen many write on this theme. Best wishes for the contest! I think this will do well! Sending you light always
Dietrich Avatar
November 30, 2024 at 10:31 AM
Hi, Ink. Yes I love stories, telling them as well as reading them or watching them in movies. My life has always revolved around reading them. Then came video and I was always watching them. Poetry came along and added a new layer. I sometimes don't know where my stories are going. Like this one. It just developed this way. Thanks as always for commenting
Edmonds  Avatar
November 30, 2024 at 3:14 AM
Magnificent poetry for Christmas Andrea, absolutely lovely…. Beryl
Dietrich Avatar
November 30, 2024 at 10:32 AM
Thanks, Beryl
Buhagiar Avatar
November 30, 2024 at 2:31 AM
Lovely poem. Thanks for reading my poems.
Dietrich Avatar
November 30, 2024 at 10:32 AM
Thanks, Victor
Cunningham Avatar
November 30, 2024 at 12:17 AM
I knew he was real, well written Andrea, love these night before poems. Best of luck in the contest. Enjoy your weekend. Tom
Dietrich Avatar
November 30, 2024 at 10:32 AM
Wouldn't it be fun to see him in the sky for real?
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