‘Twas the Night Before Halloween

'Twas the night before Halloween, at the old haunted house,

Not a monster was stirring, not even a louse.

The candy bowl was set by the front door with care, 

With the hope trick-or-treaters soon would be there.  

The ghouls were tucked all snug in their beds, 

While visions of candy corn skipped through their heads.

The witch in her pointy hat, and I in my cap,

Had just settled down for a long autumn's nap.

When out in the graveyard arose quite a noise,

I sprang from my coffin to catch the goon and his ploys.

Up to the window I sped in a flash,

Tore down the spider webs and opened the sash.

The moon was full with an eerie blue glow,

Casting a shadow on the objects below.

When what to my beady red eyes should appear,

But a big fancy sleigh and eight flying deer!

With a chubby old captain, so earnest and quick,

I scratched my head dumbfounded, "Could that be St. Nick?"

Giddy with joy each reindeer became,

As Santa giggled with glee and called them by name;

"Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now Prancer and Vixon!

On Commet! On Cupid! On Donder and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch to the top of the wall,

Dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

The leaves danced about when the reindeer did fly,

They twisted and twirled through the night sky.

Straight to the steps those eight reindeer flew,

With the infamous sleigh and St. Nicholas, too.

Then I heard footsteps approach on the porch,

I put on my cape and grabbed my lit torch.

Gliding through the house as quiet as a bat,

Tip toed past the ghost and side stepped the rat.

I know that my jaw about dropped to the floor,

When I found Santa Clause standing at my front door.

A trick-or-treat bag he had flung on his back,

Then he whipped it out front and opened his sack.

His dimples stood proud! His blue eyes, quite merry!

His cheeks were like tulips, his nose like a berry.

His ruby red lips drawn up like a bow,

And the beard on his chin was as white as fresh snow.

He was all dressed up in a furry red suit,

Each foot had a buckle on a shiny black boot.

He wore a nice smile and a look that said "hello",

And he shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jello.

He was jolly and grinning, a silly fat elf,

When I saw him I laughed, in spite of myself.

Poor Santa, I thought, he must be confused.

But he stared back at me, looking rather amused.

"Trick-or-treat!" he exclaimed with nary a lag,

Then he thrust his hands toward me and held out his bag.

I reached in the candy bowl and filled up his sack,

Then he said, "Thanks, next year I'll be back!"

He jumped in his sleigh and to his team gave a whistle,

Then shot into the dark like a speeding red missile.

But I heard him exclaim as they hurried out of sight,

"Happy Halloween to all, and to all a good night!"

THE END

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