[Public-List] A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

[Jay Davenport via Public-List]

Twas The Night Before A Sailor's Christmas



 T’was the night before Christmas, I swung on the hook
 With snowflakes a’landing, asleep with my book
 When up on the deck I heard footsteps and stuff
 “I’ve been boarded!” I thought, and I tried to be tough

 Then down the companionway hatch came a dude
 He was dressed like a nut and I thought, “I’m so screwed”
 But he laughed and he hummed as he surveyed my junk
 So I figured he must be the resident drunk

 His eyes were lit up and he worked at fast speed
 He gave me a whole bunch of stuff that I need
 Like rum and cigars and new charts and a dinghy
 And some kind of fancy electrical thingy

 This stuff could have been stolen but I wasn’t telling
 I just hoped he was giving and wasn’t just selling
 And I poured him a grog which he downed with a wink
 Then I poured one for me (Lord I needed a drink!)

 Then he staggered above to the dark snowy night
 As I peeked I beheld an incredible sight
 Eight tiny dolphins and a beautiful sleigh
 And the dude hopped aboard and prepared to make way

 The dolphins were ready to power the sled
 But the guy raised a genny and mains’l instead
 With a burp and a chuckle he gathered the breeze
 And called to the dolphins, now swimming with ease

 “Hey Stalker and FEMA and Cancer and Nixon!
 On Stinky and Pepper Spray, Mason, and Dixon!
 Or whatever your names are, you cute little fishes,
 Here’s to every last sailor, my best Christmas wishes!”

 As he sailed away leaving a wobbly wake
 I hoped he had not many stops left to make
 He got close to shore and he soon was aground
 But the dolphins proceeded to pull him around

 And I heard him exclaim as he sailed out of sight
 “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight!”

 From Jay Davenport