The Night Before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the roost
Not an avian was stirring, not even a goose.
The flight suits were hung by the brooder with care,
In hopes that the Great Eagle soon would be there.

The chicks were all nestled snug under mamma’s wings,
While visions of sun-flower seeds danced in their bird-brains.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just feathered our nest for a long winter's nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the nest to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

A snow owl frolicked in the new-fallen snow
Oblivious to the chill of fifteen below.
With winter set in, it was no longer summer,
A tiny sleigh quickly approached, pulled by eight ruby throated hummers.

With a little old driver, so lively and agile,
I knew in a moment it must be the Eagle.
More rapid than falcons his hummers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Donald! now, Daffy! now, Woodstock and Heckle!
On, Woody! On, Tweety! on, Henery and Jeckle!
To the top of the perch! On 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 hummers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and the Great Eagle too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The scratching and tapping of each little foot.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney the Eagle came with a bound.

He was dressed all in feathers, from his beak to his talons,
And in black and white ashes looked more like a penguin.
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

Determined eyes—how they glimmered! But birds don’t have dimples!
Making this verse rhyme is not very simple!
His beak tightly clenched a nut from the table,
A snack left by the chicks for the gentle old Eagle.

A nicotene patch was afixed to his shoulder,
He had stopped smoking his pipe, to set a better example!
He had a noble face, a lean muscular belly,
There’s no doubt in my mind, he’s never tasted jelly!

He was tall in stature, yet humble in demeanor,
An inspiring figure to all who have seen him!
As he turned to engage me he tilted his head,
Letting me know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a peep, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the flight suits; then turned with a jerk.
And laying a talon aside of his beak,
Up the chimney he rose and away oh so quick!

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 screech, ‘ere he flew out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a Good-Flight!"

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