Page 33 - Voices-2021-12

Christmas Visit 2021

Ken Coomes, DTM
(adapted from “A Visit from St. Nickolas” by Clement Clarke Moore)

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house And then, in a twinkling, I heard over my head
There was no online shopping, no using the mouse. The idling and purring of each little hybrid.
The gifts were delivered, only one was rejected. As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
The rest were all carefully wiped down, disinfected. Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds; He was dressed in faux fur, from his head to his foot,
While visions of new apps and games danced in their heads; And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
And ma in her jammies, computer on lap, A bundle of tech he had flung on his back,
Read the December VOICES!, before taking a nap. And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
When our brand new Ring doorbell made such a clatter, His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry!
I reached for my phone to see what was the matter. His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
I opened the app, to see what was out there, His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
I looked at the video, and saw reason to care. And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow;
The moon on our stoop was able to show, A nice Christmas-themed mask covered up all his teeth,
A porch pirate’s back retreating below. And around his wide neck was encircled a wreath;
Then what did my wondering eyes see through the lens, He had a broad face and a rotund little belly
But parked at our curb a red Mercedes-Benz. That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.
With a little old driver so lively and quick, He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
The driver, no pirate, he must be St. Nick. And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
More rapid than Hondas his white Benzes came, A card proving vaccine, and his safely masked head
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name: Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
“Now, A-class! Now, C-class! GLA, GLB! He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
On, E-class! On, G-class! On, EQS, GLE! And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! And laying his finger aside of his nose,
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!” And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
As speedsters down the race track do fly, He sprang to his Benz, to his team gave a whistle,
When they race up a tall ramp, and mount to the sky; And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
So up to the housetop the Benzes they flew But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight—
With their trunks full of presents, St. Nicholas too— “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a safe night!”

VOICES! | DECEMBER 2021 33