'Twas The Night Before Christmas (edited)

[roxybeast]

I found the original version of this, but when reading it to my girls, noticed it was sort of archaeic, hard to read, and had some phrases and language not designed for the 21st century, so I took the liberty of updating and editing this classic to make it easier to read. Now, hopefully, you can read this version to your kids on Christmas. B

‘Twas The Night Before Christmas
By Clement Clark Moore (as Edited by B. Isbell)


“Twas the night before Christmas and 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 Saint Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugarplums danced in their heads.
And Mom in her ‘kerchief and I in my cap,
Had just laid ourselves down for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn 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 shutters and threw up the sash.
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh with eight tiny reindeer,
And a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be Saint Nick.

“Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer!, Now, Prancer! Now, Vixen!,
On Comet! On Cupid!, On Donder and Blitzen!”
So up to the house-top the reindeer they flew,
With a sleigh full of toys, and Saint 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 Saint Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fir from his head to his foot,
His bright red pajamas were all covered in soot.
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry,
His eyes had a twinkle and his dimples were merry.
He had a broad face, and a round little belly,
That shook, when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.
His cute little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow.

He was chubby and plump, that right jolly old elf,
So I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.
He spoke not a word and went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger on the side of his nose,
He gave me a nod and up the chimney he rose,
And I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight,
“Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!”

[roxybeast]

I recently was re-reading this work and love it. Really well done.

I re-arranged some of the lines and wording to make it flow better,
and it really does read so much better than Clark Clement Moore's original, ... perhaps you won't notice if you don't have the original next to you for comparison, ... but if you've tried to read the original to your kids, then you'll know and I hope appreciate this nicely edited version.

Patting myself on the back - laugh ... Anyway, hope you like it!

Peace,
B

[jimboloco]

mercy
i saw a tall reindeer with glittering green shades
playing a peppermint guitar!
wow!