Twas the week before Christmas, when all through the forum
Not a creature was stirring, not even Zardoz.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that the
POTW certificate would soon be hung there (*)
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
[
Cept Flis's offspring who were worried for their safety ]
While visions of violence danced in their heads.
And Kissyfur dreamed of Scarlet in his ‘cardigan,
and I in my cap's,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.
When out on the lawn there arose
such a clatter,I sprang from the bed to see
what was the matter.Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of
mid-day to objects below.When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, [is it Dimrill]
But
a miniature Tomcat,and eight tinny reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be Grim...
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by [special christmas] name!
"Now CurioHoHo! now, Crimbaig! now, Jinglebelm and Dimvinterblot!
On, Russell Sprouts! On, Squirtdolf! on, on Mimistletoe and Wine!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
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-top the coursers they flew,
With the tomcat full of
Toys, and St Nic too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nic came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.
His eyes-how they twinkled!
his dimples how merry!His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!
He was
chubby and plump,
a right jolly little elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
Comparing the shelfs of
Malc74 and
DevilmanAnd laying his finger aside of his nose,And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy
Cheesus to all,
and to all a good-night!"***
Many thanks to everyone on the board , especially those who contributed suggestions - Malc74 / Grim... / Malia / Kalmar / Bobbyaro / Doctor Glyndwr
And a special mention to Mr Chris who nominated his own posts and managed to nominate this post of Davpaz's
viewtopic.php?p=623458#p623458 3 times in around 20 minutes on Wednesday afternoon (I think he'd already been at the sherry and mince pies at that point) , although he did nominate one of mine as well :-)
(*)
This post recieved not just POTW nominations but POTMFW from two people almost instantly.