Friday, December 10, 2010

'Twas the Night Before Christmas, a poem

'Twas the Night Before Christmas (or A Visit from St. Nicholas) by Clement Clarke Moore (1823)
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'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 Mama in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap.
When out on the roof there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash,tore open the shutter, and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow gave the lustre of midday to objects below,when, what to my wondering eyes should appear,but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny 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 courses 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, 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 courses 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 on 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 bowl full 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!"

20 comments:

  1. Tucker,

    The picture of you in the Santa hat made me fall in love :)

    And the poem is pretty adorbs with the pics too.

    Muah,

    Minnie Moo

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  2. Ah, nothing like the Christmas story to put us in a Christmas mood!

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  3. Wot a wonnerful howliday poem with great pikshures!

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  4. SUPER JOB TUCKER!!! BUTT why did they call you a jolly old SHELF???

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  5. We love that poem and you illustrated it beautifully. Thank you for visiting us today.
    Morgan, Tsar and the Porties

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  6. Tucker,

    Mom and me LUVS dis post today! :)

    Woofs and Licks,
    Maggie Mae

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  7. Law haves mercy...I nevers thought I was gonna gets through all them kitteh piktures...but, finally there you was. It was worthit!

    Puddles
    PEES: my mum is gonna Fedex me to your house so I can sleeps in da big bed:)

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  8. BOL!! Those kitty reindeer!!!! I wonder if I can get my feline siblings to wear antlers and pull me around in a sleigh! Great post!

    Your pal, Pip

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  9. Woo are one khute Santa helper!

    Hugz&Khysses,
    Khyra
    PeeEssWoo: I got a healthy dusting of snow Friday!

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  10. Love your version of da poem, Tucker!!

    Great fotos!!!!

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  11. Awww, that was just beautiful. Tucker, we see you got the "hat" treatment too:)

    Woos ~ Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara

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  12. What a great way to make the story your own! I bet Santa will be extra-good to you for portraying him so well!

    Snorts-
    Brutus & Carmen

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  13. Oh! That was the most wonderfulest version of that poem I ever, ever heard...er...read. The pictures were absolutely pawfect! You did a really good job acting out the story, Tucker. Gosh! This just made my whole night!

    Wiggles & Wags,
    Mayzie

    PeeS. How'd you gets the kitteh to pull the sleigh?

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  14. Great post!!!!!! I loved it the most!

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  15. Hey Tucker!
    This is the best version of this story! Love the pix you have mixed in...they're perfect! Thanks for sharing such a great holiday moment.
    Grr and a Festive Woof,
    Sarge

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  16. Hi Tucker,

    What a great post and I love all the pictures!

    AARF Kasha the Dainty Great Dane

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  17. (GASP!) Santa Hat Abuse!!!!!!! :-)

    Well, at least from last year! :-)

    Great post - loved how you matched all your photos perfectly! And what a cool Tucker sleigh with kitties pulling! Am very jealous of all the snow I can see out your window!

    Slobbers,
    Honey the Great Dane

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  18. That was great! I never saw the pictures that went with the poem before. Who knew?

    Slobbers,
    mango

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  19. thish ish my favorite poem ever to bee's now tucker love , i luvs it i tell you i luvs it!!!

    pibble sugars and wee wiggles
    the pittie pack

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