I love the poem ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’, it’s fun to read with the kids and a fun tradition to have in our home. With that said, I also LOVE the knock-offs! I live in Texas, so I had to feature this one!
Twas The Night Before Christmas: Texas Style
‘Twas the night before Christmas, in Texas, you know.
Way out on the prairie, without any snow.
Asleep in their cabin, were Buddy and Sue,
A dreamin‘ of Christmas, like me and you.
Not stockings, but boots, at the foot of their bed,
For this was Texas, what more need be said,
When all of a sudden, from out of the still night,
There came such a ruckus, it gave me a fright.
and I saw ‘cross the prairie, like a shot from a gun,
A loaded up buckboard, come on at a run,
The driver was “Geein” and “Hawin“, with a will,
The horses (not reindeer) he drove with such skill.
“Come on there Buck, Poncho, & Prince, to the right,
There’ll be plenty of travelin‘ for you all tonight.”
The driver in Levi’s and a shirt that was red,
Had a ten-gallon Stetson on top of his head.
As he stepped from the buckboard, he was really a sight,
With his beard and moustache, so curly and white.
As he burst in the cabin, the children awoke,
and were so astonished, that neither one spoke.
and he filled up their boots with such presents galore,
That neither could think of a single thing more.
When Buddy recovered the use of his jaws,
He asked in a whisper, “Are you really Santa Claus?”
“Am I the real Santa? Well, what do you think?”
and he smiled as he gave a mysterious wink.
Then he leaped in his buckboard, and called back in his drawl,
“To all the children in Texas, Merry Christmas, Yall”
Twas the month after Christmas, and all through the house,
Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse.
The cookies I’d nibbled, the eggnog I’d taste,
At the holiday parties, had gone to my waist.
When I got on the scales, there arose such a number!
When I walked to the store, (less a walk than a lumber).
I’d remember the marvelous, meals I’d prepared;
The gravies and sauces, and beef nicely rared,
The wine and the rum balls, the bread and the cheese,
and the way I’d never said, “No, thank you, please.”
As I dressed myself, in my husband’s old shirt,
and prepared once again, to do battle with dirt,
I said to myself, as I only can
“You can spend a winter disguised as a man!”
So-away with the last, of the sour cream dip,
Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip.
Every last bit of food, that I like must be banished
Till all the additional, ounces have vanished.
I won’t have a cookie, not even a lick.
I’ll want only to chew, on a long celery stick.
I won’t have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie,
I’ll munch on a carrot, and quietly cry.
I’m hungry, I’m lonesome, and life is a bore-
But isn’t that what, January is for?
Unable to giggle, no longer a riot.
Happy New Year to all, and to all a good diet!
Keep these poems in mind during the gift-giving season. You might find a gift that will work perfectly with it.
I’ve made it easy for you! Print each of these poems out for free on Executive Homemaker!
texas, baby! i love this. i had no idea you were a fellow texan – love your tips!