'Twas the night before February 3, when all through the land
No music was playing was stirring, not even a band;
The drumstics were hung by the guitar case with care,
In hopes that Buddy Holly soon would be there;
The picks were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of quarter-notes danced in their heads;
And mamma in her doo-rag, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long musicless nap,
When out on the stage there arose such a clatter,
I jumped from the set to see what was the matter.
Away to the concert I flew like a flash,
Tore open the doors and prepared for a bash.
The music sounded good on the new-fallen snow
It gave pleasure of mid-day to instruments below,
When, what to my wondering ears should I hear,
But a miniature cymbal, and the sound oh so dear,
With a little old guitarist, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be The Hendrix.
More rapid than The Eagles his music, they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and sang out my name;
"Now, Eric! now, Jimmy! now, Pete and George!
On, Art! on Niklas! on, Scott and Lord!
To the top of the stage! to the top of the ball!
Now play away! play away! play away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricanes played,
When they meet with an obstacle, mounted to skies grayed,
So up to the house-top the guitarists they flew,
With an armful of instruments, and The Hendrix too.
And then, in a melody, I heard on the roof
The playing and practicing of each little goof.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the piano, The Hendrix, came with a bound.
He was dressed all in leather, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with charcoal and soot;
A bundle of guitars he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a prodigy just opening his pack.
His eyes -- how they sang! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like heaven, his nose like a peary!
His droll little mouth was drawn very low,
And the beard of his chin was as dark as it goes;
The stump of a cigar he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a peak;
He had a broad face and a was a little smelly,
That displeased, when he laughed like a bowlful of old deli.
He was chubby and plump, a nice jolly old self,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the cases; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the piano he rose;
He sprang to his tour bus, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Playing to all, and to all a good-night."
Hope that helps.
If not good luck.
2007-12-17 09:22:44
·
answer #1
·
answered by Marissa 3
·
0⤊
0⤋
'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the base
Only sentries were stirring - they guarded to place.
At the foot of each bunk sat a helmet and boot
For the Santa of Soldiers to fill up with loot.
The soldiers were sleeping and snoring away
As they dreamed of "back home" on good Christmas Day.
One snoozed with his rife - he seemed so content.
I slept with the letters my family had sent.
When outside the tent there arose such a clatter.
I sprang from my rack to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Poked out my head, and yelled, "What was that crash?"
When what to my thrill and relief should appear,
But one of our Blackhawks to give the all clear.
More rattles and rumbles! I heard a deep whine!
Then drove eight Humvees, a jeep close behind . .
Each vehicle painted a bright Christmas green,
With more lights and gold tinsel than I'd ever seen.
The convoy commander leaped down and he paused.
I knew then and there it was Sergeant McClaus!
More rapid than rockets, his drivers they came
When he whistle, and shouted, and called them by name:
"Now, Cohen! Mendoza! Woslowski! McCord!
No, Li! Watts! Donetti! And Specialist Ford!"
"Go fill up my sea bags with gifts large and small!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away, all!"
In the blink of an eye, to their trucks the troops darted.
The engines did flutter, they sputtered, then started.
The armored moved out - it was "Duty of bust."
McClaus disappeared in all of the dust!
As I drew in my head and was turning around,
Through the tent flap the sergeant came in with a bound.
He was dressed all in camo and looked quite a sight
With a Santa hat added for this special night.
His eyes - sharp as lasers! He stood six feet six.
His nose was quite crooked, his jaw hard as bricks!
A stub of cigar he held clamped in his teeth.
And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath.
A young drive walked in with a seabag in tow.
McClaus took the bag, told the driver to go.
Then the sarge went to work. And his mission today/
Bring Christmas from home to the troops far away!
Tasty gifts from old friends in the helmets he laid.
There were candies, and cookies, and cakes, all homemake.
Many parents sent phone cards so soldiers could hear
Treasured voices and laughter of those they held dear.
Loving husbands and wives had mailed photos galore
Of weddings and birthdays and first steps and more.
And for each soldier's boot, like a warm, happy hug,
There was art from the children at home sweet and snug.
As he finished the job - did I see a twinkle?
Was that a small smile or instead just a wrinkle?
To the top of his brow he raised up hjis and
And gave a salute that made me feel grand.
I gasped in surprise when, his face all aglow,
He gave a huge grin and a big HO! HO! HO!
HO! HO! HO! from the barracks and then from the base.
HO! HO! HO! as the convoy sped up into space.
As the camp radar lost him, I heard this faint call:
"Happy Christmas, Brave Soliders! May Peace Come To All"
The Soldiers' Night Before Christmas by Trish Holland and Christine Ford.
2007-12-17 17:19:19
·
answer #2
·
answered by bettyrubleinspurs 4
·
0⤊
0⤋