‘Twas the night before Christmas

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house,Not a creature was stirring, except for the mouse
The buckets were under the roof eves with care,

In hopes that a rain storm soon would be there
The lizards were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sweet insects danced in their heads
As I lay down and continued to sweat,

I think of the gecko that won’t be my pet
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I huddled in bed afraid of the matter
The true situation became clear in a flash,

My two neighbours’ radios were starting to clash
The moon on the breast of the new fallen dust,

Did its best to hide my roof starting to rust
When what to my wandering eye should appear?

Yes another rooster and a man smelling of beer
Off in the distance, too far to see,

Were the warbling sounds of karaoke
My little old neighbour so lively and quick,

I know in a moment she was looking for Nick
More rapid than eagles her children they came,

And she whistled and shouted and called them by name
Now Frankie, now Fredo, now Farah, now Paul

Now Sarah, now Papi, now Franco, now Saul
Stop climbing the roof, stop climbing the wall
Come inside, come inside, come inside all
As dry leaves that before the hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle mount to the sky
So up to the door the children they ran,

With mud on their legs and dirt on their hands
I close my window as the kids go to sleep,

But something new is making a peep
I look to the rafter and what do I see?

A tiny hedgehog who’s staring back at me
A not distant thunder rumbles through the night,

Sending the hedgehog squealing with fright
A few minutes later it begins to pour,

And the sound on the tin is an almighty roar
A few hours later and the rains are done,

But a rooster is out of tune with the sun
He crocks and he crows for all to hear,

I’d cook him for dinner if he passed near
And just when I finally start to sleep,

Through my walls the sun’s starting to peep
I roll over to put the light out of sight,

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night