Thursday, December 15, 2011

A Medieval Christmas Poem

I had written the following poem in 1996, while I was active Medieval recreationist in the SCA. My persona was from Ireland, thus the point of view in the poem. Enjoy a wee bit of humor in the rewrite of a famous Christmas poem:

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How St. Nicholas Has Enough Toys for the World at Christmas
`Twas two nights before Christmas, and all through the castle
Not a sound was heard, not even a rattle.
When outside the city gates there arose such a clatter.
People sprang from their beds to see what was the matter.
Down at the gates was a man very queer
With an army of elves and many reindeer.
He was armored in velvet, a very bright red
With a white fur trim from his toes to his head.
Drawing his sack, they all charged the gate.
The guards cried out, but it was really too late.
They spilt not one drop of crimson blood,
But flowed through the gates like a red and green flood.
The townsfolk cried out in anguish and fear,
“Saints and begorah! The fay are all here!”
Onto banked fires they all through more peat.
But the elves had ignored them, and headed up the street.
`Twas to the toy-maker’s shop that they drew,
The elves, reindeer and Nicolas Claus too.
They spoke not a word, but went straight to work.
They filled all their sacks and turned with a jerk.
Then with a nod, they all faded away,
Without leaving a footprint behind in the hay.
At last the toy-man got out from under his bed.
He just looked around the room and shook his poor head.
The toys were all gone; new supplies in their stead,
plus a bag of silver, two gold, he came out ahead.
Not understanding the fay who disappeared from sight,
At least they paid him for the toys out right.
And the very next night, good children rich and poor,
Found a brand new toy waiting for them at their door.

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