Twas the Night Before Christmas

 

Twas the Night Before Christmas

 

'Twas the night before Christmas and far out at sea

Our vessel was sailing as smooth as could be

 

The stockings were hung from the balcony chairs 

With hope that St. Nicholas would find them out there 

The children were nestled all snug in their uppers 

Having just settled down from a Christmas Eve supper 

And ma and myself, we were covered in aloe 

A bit too much sun, in a pool nice and shallow 

When up in the sky there arose such a clatter 

I leapt from my bed to see what was the matter  

To the sliding glass door, I flew like a flash 

Well, more like a saunter, and less like a dash 

When, what to my skeptical eyes should appear 

But a big shiny sleigh and eight flying reindeer 

They circled our ship from starboard to port 

And the moon lit the driver, a jolly old sort 

Who called to his team in a happy retort,

"Now Dasher, now Dancer," so on and so forth 

I raced through my cabin and into the hall 

To the very top deck, in time for us all 

To be awed by the sight of Old Santa's sleigh 

As he lightly touched down by the midnight buffet 

With a bundle of goodies thrown over his back 

He climbed up the side and dropped down the smokestack 

From insides to ocean views, balconies, suites 

Santa filled every stocking with toys and with treats 

Until all the deliveries had been handled with care 

Then he noted he still had a minute to spare 

So he surfed the Surf Park, with nary a fall 

While Dasher and Dancer scaled the rock-climbing wall 

And Prancer, who was actually fond of the cold 

Tried the ice-skating rink, a sight to behold 

And then with a whistle, Santa summoned his team 

And he bade us farewell, silent nights and sweet dreams 

And I heard him exclaim as he flew out of view 

Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good cruise.

Author: Alan Fox