Twas the NIght Before Christmas....Texas Version

Posted by ken on December 24, 2016

A Texas Christmas Eve

‘Twas the night before Christmas, at my cabin on the lake

Not a creature was stirring, not a hen, not a drake

The waders were hung in the garage on a nail

Still muddy from duck hunting, and smelling that smell

The kids they were nestled all snug in their bunks

All fishing gear locked up, in the shed, in a trunk

The dogs on their beds and I in my cap

Had just settled in for a long winter’s nap

When out in the yard there arose such a racket

I jumped from the couch and quick grabbed my jacket

As I gazed out the window across the lawn to the dock

A chubby man there stood in a red cashmere smock

And then to my wondering eyes did appear

Eight dogs – wait not dogs, but tiny reindeer

To my surprise I then saw the man known as St Nick

Sneakin’ round on my dock with a seven-foot stick

He moved with such grace while whispering to his pack

“Prancer keep you line tight son, give it no slack”

Now I realized at this moment they all had these things

All seven feet long and trailing long strings

The whole bunch they were taking a mid evening pause

For their favorite evening pastime, fishing with boss Claus

I could stand it no more, I just had to see

So out the back door I slipped grinning with glee

“Are the fish bitin?” I called through the night

And he spun around smiling a great smile of delight

Before he could reply I took him all in

A jolly man in red, with white whiskers on his chin

The little deer scattered, glad Joel weren’t awake

He’d have shot one for sure, we’d be eatin’ tiny steaks

With a wink of his eye he raised up his stringer

Old St Nick he can fish, heck he could be a ringer

He hopped on his sleigh with the stringer behind

Off to spread Christmas joy to all of mankind

Then to the pack he gave a quick shrill whistle

Off skyward they went at the speed of a missle

And I heard him call out as they flew out of sight

“The fish they’re a bitin’, Merry Christmas, goodnight”

 Ken Smith....Elf