‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house
My husband was snoring thru nose and thru mouth.
When all of a sudden he arose with a shout
“There’s deer on our rooftop, get my old shotgun out!”
I patted his hand and said, “Calm down my dear”
“It’s just Santa Claus and his eight tiny reindeer.”
He lay back down with a grumbling sound
“I hope he leaves me a good ol’ coon hound!”
Shirley Vrsan
Zoar, Ohio
‘Twas the night before Christmas, see Christmas lights bright,
Carols and candles in churches at night.
Families share dinner, give presents, and say,
Wishes of love for “a very merry Christmas day!”
Patricia Johnson
Waynesburg, Ohio
‘Twas the night before Christmas, the gifts under the tree.
I felt love for my six children, they filled my life with glee.
My only hope is that they’d still be content,
When they discover we can’t pay the rent.
Nina Kenyon
Jeromesville, Ohio
‘Twas the night before Christmas and we were chasing a mouse
That had taken up residence in our old farmhouse.
He ran through our bedroom as we readied for church
My wife shrieked ,”Go get him!” as I turned with a lurch
And staggered and stumbled as I pulled up my pants.
Upon seeing me waver he seized on the chance.
He flew past the closet and hugging the wall
Dashed through the doorway and into the hall.
The kids were half dressed but joined in the chase
We were running three wide like a Daytona race!
He rounded the stair top and then started down
Clearing three or four steps with each giant bound.
‘Cause the floor was all polished and shone like a rink
With a four-wheeled slide he crashed under the sink.
We arrived at the bottom in a tangled up sprawl
Then slid to the cupboards, not graceful at all.
Our mouse on four feet had much better traction
Much quicker by far than any human reaction
He turned on a dime with a drastic change
Disappearing like vapor under the range.
We made it to service with time to spare
Returning near midnight to our humble lair.
We sat by the tree just watching the lights
Enjoying the quiet of this holiest of Nights.
There came a little rustle the tinsel just shook
Then Mom in her wisdom said, “Don’t even look.
After all your bumbling he’s earned his release
Even little creatures are deserving of Peace.”
Philip Lautzenheiser
Beach City, OhiO
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all around the farm
The animals were silent, awaiting a new arrival in the barn
When the first weak bleats rang through the air
The farm came alive, for Christmas was here.
Annie Fox
Hundred, W. Va.
