‘Twas the Night Before Christmas – 2nd Edition

We had so much fun last year, we did it again. Here’s News of St. John’s second annual ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas … on St. John.

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through St. John,
Not a local was sleeping, most were at Quiet Mon.
The koozies were hung by The Tap Room with care,
In hopes that a Summer Ale soon would appear.

The tourists were hanging at Castaway’s bar,
While Hollywood stood outside and strummed his guitar.
Grabbed my last drink from Motu, so sad it’s a wrap,
Then head to The Beach Bar for a lil’ night cap.

When out on the dock, there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my barstool to see what’s the matter.
Away to the beach, I flew like a flash,
Ran quickly past Joe’s and heard a big splash.

The moon on the bay with the St. Thomas lights,
Gave a luster of midday to something in flight.
When what to my wondering eyes did appear,
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.

With a tanned little driver so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment he must be St. Nick.
More rapid than mongoose his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:

“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blixen!
To the east we must fly! We must save the bay!
We like it! We like it! We like it this way!

As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So out toward the East, the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of swag, and St. 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 palm tree St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed in flip flops, a cold drink in his hand,
And looked happy to’ve ditched the snow for the sand.
With a snorkel in tow and a cooler of beer,
He looked ready to spread some holiday cheer.

His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His skin was so tan, from his head to his toes,
He just looked so happy to be out of the snow!

He put on his swimsuit and downed his cold drink,
Took a dip in the pool and gave me a wink.
He had a broad face and a cute little belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.
He looked at his watch and hopped out of the pool,
Who would have thought that this guy was so cool!

The fun had to end, time to get back to work,
So he filled up the stockings, then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the palm tree he rose.

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 exclaim, as he flew toward the Bight—
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

Merry Christmas everyone!! Love, Jenn & the News of St. John family 🙂

(Click here to read last year’s version of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas…)