THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS IN EAST COUNTY
‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all across East County
Not a creature was stirring, from Borrego to El Monte.
The stockings were hung by the chimneys with care
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon will be there.
From Barona to Ramona, Jacumba to Jamul
East County residents will soon celebrate the Yule.
From smart phones and tablets, amid holiday dishes
Our readers have sent Santa their holiday wishes.
Residents of Alpine voiced their Christmas wish
For Santa to restock Loveland Reservoir with fish.
While Lakeside folks ask if Santa’s elves can
Please fix the old dam at El Capitan.
El Cajon families are asking for aid
To restore their beloved Mother Goose Parade.
Locals with loved ones in the Mideast and Ukraine
Plead for peace on Earth once again.
Like Bethlehem immigrants from far away,
Migrants at our border have no place to stay;
They hope for asylum to start a new life
In the U.S., free from fear and from strife.
Out in Jacumba, humanitarian aid
Is sought for migrants with no water or shade.
In homeless camps across our region,
Forgotten folks want housing this holiday season.
Storm-battered wineries in Ramona and Jamul
Seek bountiful harvests as their gifts for the Yule.
Santee residents in search of good cheer
Want a major brewery to finally come here.
La Mesans want digital billboard plans dropped
And Grossmont Center to stay a place to shop.
After Lemon Grove’s bonfire burned down to embers,
The public seeks peace among City Council members.
This Christmas eve, as the hour grows late,
East County folks sleep while the holiday they await.
Atop Mount Laguna, lodge guests in night caps
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,
When out o’er the lodge there arose such a clatter,
They sprang from their beds to see what was the matter.
Away to the windows they flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and drew 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 their wondering eyes should appear,
But a magical sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
They knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
Beside golden eagles his reindeer they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
"Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer. Now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the mountain! Then the new border wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before Santa Ana winds fly,
When they meet with a wind turbine, mount to the sky,
So up to the Mount Laguna the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, guests heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As they texted the good news and were turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed in faux-fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with wildfires’ soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a backpacker opening his pack.
His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow;
A hemp pipe, now legal, he held tight in his teeth,
And its smoke encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like Julian apple jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elfy,
So guests laughed when they saw him, and some took a selfie;
A wink of his eye and the red cowboy hat on his head,
Soon gave all to know they had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but 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 sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like a swift NASA missile
But all heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
“Merry Christmas, East County, and to all a good night!”