A PARADOY OF "TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS"
BY CLEMENT CLARKE MOORE (1779 - 1863)

'TWAS ALL HALLOW'S EVE,
AND ALL THROUGH THE HOUSE,
ALL CREATURES WERE STIRRING,
EVEN THE MOUSE

THE COSTUMES WERE HUNG,
IN THE CLOSET WITH CARE
IN HOPES THAT COME MORNING,
THEY ALL STILL WOULD BE THERE.

THE CHIDLREN WERE NESTLED ALL SNUG IN THEIR CRYPT,
WHILE INTO DEEP SLUMBER THEY HAPPILY SLIPPED.
WITH MAMMA IN HER CAPE, AND I IN MY CAP,
WE HAD JUST SETTLED DOWN FOR A LONG AUTUMN'S NAP.

WHEN OUT IN THE GRAVEYARD AROSE SUCH A CLATTER,
I SPRANG OUT OF MY COFFIN TO SEE WHAT WAS THE MATTER.
AWAY TO THE WINDOW I FLEW LIKE A FLASH,
TORE DOWN THE COBWEBS, AND OPENED THE LATCH.

THE MOON ON THE BREAST OF THE NEW FALLEN LEAVES
GAVE AN EERIE GLOW TO THE BATS IN THE EAVES.
WHEN, WHAT TO MY FIVE GLOWING EYES SHOULD APPEAR,
BUT A FLYING BLACK HEARSE AND EIGHT GHOSTS WITH A LEER.

WITH A LOOMING DARK DRIVER, SO LETHAL AND GRIM,
i KNEW WITHOUT DOUBT THAT IT JUST MIGHT BE HIM.
MORE RAPID THAN BULLETS, HIS COURSERS THEY CAME,
AND HE SHREIKED, AND HE SHOUTED, AND CALLED THEM BY NAME.

"NOW SLASHER! NOW LANCER! NOW BUNDY! AND HEXIN'!
ON VOMIT! ON STOOPID! ON REAPER! AND VEXIN'!
TO THE TOP OF THE TOMG, AND PAST THE BRICK WALL,
NOW FLY AWAY! FLY AWAY! FLY AWAY ALL!"

AS WTICHES ON BROOMS IN THE NIGHT FLY,
WHEN THEY MEET WITH AN OBSTACLE, MOUNT TO THE SKY,
SO UP TO THE TOMP TOP, THE COURSERS THEY FLEW,
WITH THE HEARSE FULL OF "GIFTS", AND THE DRIVER, SAM HAIN.

AND THEN IN A TWINKLIN, I HEARD ON THE ROOF,
THE STAMPING OF FEET IN A MANNER UNCOUTH.
AS I DREW IN MY CLAWS, AND WAS TURNING AROUND,
CRASHING THROUGHT THE CEILING SAM HAIN CAME WITH A BOUND.

HE WAS DRESSED ALL IN BLACK, FROM HIS HEAD TO HIS FOOT,
AND HIS HOCKEY MASK WAS ALL TARNISHED AND COVERED IN SOOT.
A BUNDLE OF SORTS HE HAD STRAPPED TO HIS BACK,
AND HE LOOKED LIKE A DEOM JUST HOLDING HIS PACK!

HIS EYES - HOW THEY GLEAMED! HIS GLARE - HOW SCARY!
HIS HANDS JUST LIKE TALONS, HIS ARMS GREEN AND HAIRY.
HIS LARGE, DROOLING MOUTH WAS DRAWN BACK IN A GROWL,
AND HIS WHOLE STANCE GAVE OFF THE LOOK OF A SCOWL.

HE TOOK OFF HIS PACK, RIPPED IT OPEN WITH WHITE FANGS.
HE THEN DROPPED THE BAG, IT HIT THE FLOOR WITH A BANG.
HE SAW ME THEN, AND REARED HIS FEARSOME HEAD,
THE LOOK IN HIS EYES FILLED ME WITH DREAD.

HE SPOKE NOT A WORD, BUT WENT STRAIGHT TO HIS WORK.
HIS PACK SPILLED MAGGOTS ON MY FLOOR - WHAT A JERK!
AND STICKING HIS FINGER UP INTO HIS NOSE,
AND GIVING A NOD, BACK THROUGHT THE CEILING HE ROSE.

SAM SPRANG TO HIS HEARSE, AND BECKONED TO HIS TEAM.
HE BELLOWED, "WHEN THEY SEE THOSE MAGGOTS, THEY'LL SCREAM!"
I PICKED THROUGH THE LARVAE, TO THE WINDOW SCENE,
AND THAT'S WHEN I FIGURED - "THIS HAIN GUY'S JUST MEAN!"

HE LURCHED IN TO THE HEARSE, INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT,
AND THE CAR HIT THE SKIES, PULLED BY THE GRUESOME FLLET.
THEN I HEARD HIM EXCLAIM, AS HE BLASTED OUT OF SIGHT,

"HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO ALL,
AND TO ALL A GHOULISH NIGHT"

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