Twas the Knight Before Christmas
by
Clement Moore & Arthur Lukas
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the House
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
And away in the Senate with that upper house flair.
Sprang such hope that Obama soon would be there.
The CEOs were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of bailouts danced in their heads.
And Laura in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brain for a long winter's nap.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should I see,
But a long stretch limo, and eight big SUVs.
With a tall young driver, so lively and tan,
I knew in a moment it must be "Obama Man."
More rapid than eagles his appointees they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
"Now Clinton! now, Gates! now, Vilsack and Chu!
On, Donovan! on, Duncan! on, Solis and Rice (that's Sue)!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now Daschle-way! Daschle-way! Daschle-way all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the appointees they flew,
With the vans full of Shoes, and Obama Man too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing and, was that a woof?
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney Obama Man came with a hound.
He was dressed in fine clothes , from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were not tarnished with ashes nor soot.
A bundle of Shoes he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a reporter, just opening his pack.
His eyes-how they twinkled! his ears, how they showed!
His hands were so quick, that in a flash he had throwed,
Four shiny new shoes, and two slippers as well!
His aim was uncanny, that much I can tell.
The stump of a pencil he held tight in his hand,
And he made a mark for every shoe that did land.
He had a thin face and practically no belly,
But when he did laugh, my legs turned to jelly!
He was tall, he was dark, a right handsome young man,
And I groaned as I heard, "Yes I can! Yes I can!"
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had something to dread.
He spoke but few words, and went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!
He sprang to his limo, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, 'ere he drove out of sight,
"Just four weeks more to go, then all will be made right!"
