The last of the series.

A Christmas present by the community to the community.

Apologies to Bernadette (1liljet) and Ali (NiteBlogger) for screwing up their lines in a previous poem.

Thanks so much to all 40+ participants!!

Twas the Night Before Christmas also called A Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement Clarke Moore.


Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winters 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,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
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 sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas 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 Nicholas 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 old 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,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And 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 Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

Participants channels - in order of appearance:
http://www.youtube.com/user/dl737
http://www.youtube.com/user/Hippiefied1
http://www.youtube.com/user/SunnyDazStormyNitz
http://www.youtube.com/user/bugsinrug
http://www.youtube.com/user/grandmadorrie
http://www.youtube.com/user/SimplyMelissa101
http://www.youtube.com/user/AnneMarie96
http://www.youtube.com/user/4ccskids8
http://www.youtube.com/user/LisaAsterisk
http://www.youtube.com/user/timido66
http://www.youtube.com/user/fehquig
http://www.youtube.com/user/Blizzeekitty
http://www.youtube.com/user/Pippilly
http://www.youtube.com/user/WackaDoodleFreeZone
http://www.youtube.com/user/jinxie228
http://www.youtube.com/user/iWalk4tnt
http://www.youtube.com/user/DawndeeDALLAS
http://www.youtube.com/user/BillyCTV
http://www.youtube.com/proofisinthepudding
http://www.youtube.com/user/vjm1234
http://www.youtube.com/user/GreatGig1
http://www.youtube.com/user/twish1999
http://www.youtube.com/user/NiteBlogger
http://www.youtube.com/user/deantown
http://www.youtube.com/user/Shadowadler
http://www.youtube.com/user/updownmostly
http://www.youtube.com/user/ASECONDCHANCEAROUND
http://www.youtube.com/user/tomthemd
http://www.youtube.com/user/Alphaba2
http://www.youtube.com/user/andymooseman
http://www.youtube.com/user/imperceptibleme
http://www.youtube.com/user/ranblv
http://www.youtube.com/wvsnoop
http://www.youtube.com/user/Riddlespider
http://www.youtube.com/user/0hMyActualGod
http://www.youtube.com/user/Poprock23
http://www.youtube.com/user/Perroquet51
http://www.youtube.com/user/JeriLynnKarr
http://www.youtube.com/user/1liljet
http://www.youtube.com/user/Blinkazoid
http://www.youtube.com/user/ohCurt (less info)