Editor: Below is an edited version of “The Night Before Christmas” in a genuine effort, with a bit of humor, to encourage our City Council and Plaza business leaders to do a bit “more” than hang a few tired old wreaths on lamp posts and decorate their windows with “Shop Here” lights!
Why can’t our precious town decorate to truly lift the spirits of everyone and carry the joyful message of peace on earth and goodwill toward all…!
Michael James
Sonoma
THE DREARY NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
In Sonoma
by Michael James
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the City/Town
Not a creature was smiling, not even a moth brown
The tired old wreaths hung on the lampposts with despair,
In hopes the Christmas spirit soon would be there;
The citizens were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of Smoking Loon danced in their heads;
The Historia in an Elf Hat, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a nice evening nap,
When out on the Plaza there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the couch 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 still green trees
Gave the luster of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a bold City Council, eight city staff and their peers,
With all of them so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be a Christmas spirit kick .
More rapid than eagles the Council they came,
And whistled, and shouted, and called Staff by name;
“Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On Cupid! On, Donder and Blitzen!
Up to all the trees and the building tops !
So up to the building tops and trees the city staff they flew,
With the sleigh full of lights, and bright bows too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the street
The purring and putting of a “green” limo so sweet.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down Broadway, City Council came with a bound.
They dressed in bright colors from heads to toe,
Though their hearts were all tarnished with politics and foes
A bundle of lights they had flung on their backs,
They looked like peddlers just opening their sacks.
Their eyes – how they twinkled! Their dimples how merry!
Her cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His trademark ‘tail’ was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of her pipe she held tight in her teeth,
And the smoke it encircled her head like a wreath;
They had a broad faces and (some) little round bellies,
That shook, when they laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
They were cheerful and sprite, right jolly ole elfs,
And I laughed when I saw them, in spite of myself;
A wink of their eye and a twist of their heads,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
They spoke not a word, but went straight to their work,
And gave staff bright bows and lights, then turned with a jerk,
And laying their fingers aside of their smart phones,
And giving a nod, up the lights all went on!
They sprang to their limo, to their driver gave a whistle,
And away they drove away like a heat seeking missile.
But I heard them exclaim, ere they drove out of sight,
See all these wonderful spirit raising bows and lights ?
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.”
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