(Inspired by "A Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement Moore)
'Twas the night before Christmas upon the North Pole.
Not a creature was sleeping, not one single soul.
All the elves were done working, now cozy in bed,
While Christmas Eve jitters danced around in their head.
Did they make enough gifts for the good girls and boys?
Would the children wake up to find half-broken toys?
Then from the shop, they all heard a great BANG!
And the high-tech security elf alarm rang.
They put on their shoes and ran down in a flash
To make sure some thief wasn't after their stash.
When they turned on the lights, can you guess who appeared?
It was jolly St. Nick with his white fuzzy beard.
"Santa!" they yelled, "We're surprised that you're back.
Did your suit rip again? Do you need a new sack?"
He said, "Comet is tired, so are Vixen and Prancer,
And Cupid is mad at both Blitzen and Dancer."
"Dasher and Donder have just run away--
I can't do my job if they don't pull my sleigh."
"Go up on the roof and help save Christmas Day!"
The elves did just that, without one word to say.
But a reindeer dilemma is not what they found,
From Cupid to Comet, they were all safe and sound.
They saw Christmas trees and stockings galore,
And enough milk and cookies, that they'd never need more.
With no explanation and without a goodbye,
Santa hopped on his sleigh and started to fly.
So there they all were, on the roof by themselves,
When they noticed a sign that read, "WE LOVE THE ELVES!"
And children popped up from behind rows of trees.
They were hiding all over, behind tables and wreathes.
They circled the elves as they started to cheer
So loudly that elves at the South Pole could hear!
And under the tree, which was grandest of all,
Presents were waiting, some large and some small,
Some wrapped with bows, some with bells that would jingle,
But each with a note that was signed by Kris Kringle.
All the elves got a gift, and they liked every one.
Just a few trades were made before gifting was done.
By the end, they were speechless with such gratitude.
(And elves always talk, unless chewing their food.)
It was time to turn in, for the younger elves' sake.
They'd be working tomorrow (enough of this break).
And as he lay down to sleep, filled with holiday spirit,
A little elf spoke, but it was quite hard to hear it.
He whispered the words with a childish delight,
"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight..."