Twas the Night Before Christmas (revisited)

'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house
Not a creature was stirring except me and my spouse;
Credit card bills were stacked by the chimney with care,
And I was assembling toys trying to make it look like St. Nicholas had been there.

The children were lying restless in their beds,
While visions of "X-Boxes" danced in their heads;
I cursed the assembly instructions, understanding not a word,
While in the kitchen ma toiled stuffing the bird.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang to the window to see what was the matter;
I peaked through the blinds, trying not to be seen,
I thought maybe the vandals had returned to the scene.

You see, two nights before my lights they did take,
And my eight-foot Santa they threw in the lake;
Don't they know what this season's all about?
I would have won the lighting contest, no doubt.

I peered, and squinted, watching the yard,
Hoping to catch the punks all off-guard;
"Call 911," I said to my wife,
Ready to pounce on the first sign of life.

Then what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But someone lurking by the plastic remains of my reindeer;
He was looking over Dasher, and Dancer, and the antlers of Vixen,
But there was nothing left of Comet, Cupid, Donder, or Blitzen.

I put on my shoes, and stepped out the front door,
Then I spoke to the stranger, "I see you've returned to do more."
His clothes were all threadbare from his head to his feet,
But his eyes shown like jewels and their gaze I couldn't meet.

"I was looking at all the damage that was done,
They didn't ruin it all, they missed the little one;"
He motioned to my little manger scene,
The small set I got from Aunt Jean.

The man was shaking as he spoke,
The wind must have blown right through his coat.
"I love to gaze upon that little child, whenever I can,
And I remember that he was God became man."

"He was hidden behind an inn that night,
"Hidden from harm, safe out of sight.
He grew and reached out to a world in pain
But on deaf ears his words fell, his efforts seemed to be in vain."

"No longer safe in his manger,
The world was hostile and he walked into danger;
He was betrayed, and then taken by force,
But, He did not fight back for this was part of his course."

"Soldiers whipped and beat him with glee,
Then he was hung to die on a tree;"
The old man shivered and trembled and shook,
Then told me. "When he died our sins He took."

"Then He rose again on the third day,
His life he lived to show us the way;"
Then the old man's Spirit did lift,
He said with a smile, "That was the greatest Christmas gift"

The night was cold and the wind made a racket,
Then I went in the house and grabbed him a jacket;
Humbly he took it and put it on with a smile,
Then I asked him to come in for a while.

He thanked me for the offer but kindly refused,
"I have many people to see before this night is through;"
I looked down for a moment then he vanished form sight,
But I heard his voice ring through the night, "Remember Christ this Christmas, and Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight."