Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the yard,
All the switchmen were switching, some working quite hard.
The grips were all hung by the shanty with care,
In the hopes that a time slip would soon show up there.
The trainmasters were nestled, all snug in their beds,
While visions of test failures danced in their heads.
The hogger in his kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a sneakey quick nap.
When out in the yard there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from our motor to see "what's the matter?"
Away from the cab, I flew in a flash,
To line all the switches, and stop a bad crash.
The moon on the field of new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a worn out SD40, dragging eight old reindeer.
Run by an old hogger, who looked like St. Nick,
I knew in a moment, I had to act quick.
At yard speed the 40 down my lead he now 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 yard, we'll cross over them all,
Now drag away drag away, drag away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the top end the old 40 flew,
With a gon full of toys, and Saint Nicholas too!
And then in a twinkling, I heard an old horn,
Blowing for the brakes, soft and forlorn.
As I threw down my lantern and was turning around,
Down the old 40s steps the old hogger bound.
He was twitchy and wormy, from his head to his feet,
His yard list all folded and sorted, quite neat.
A bundle of time slips he had flung on his back,
He looked like a peddler 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 of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
He filled all those grips, then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, to the seat box he rose,
He notched out his 40, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."
With sincere apologies to the Reverend Moore...
23 17 46 11
//applause
Great adaptation, Ed.
Brian (IA) http://blhanel.rrpicturearchives.net.
.......................Really Great....!
Quentin
Willy
Modelcar wrote: .......................Really Great....!
That was SOooooo COOL!!! Thanks,Ed!
Bill B
blhanel wrote://applause Great adaptation, Ed.
Now,How 'bout a Publisher,and doing a "Volume of Short Stories by Ed"?!
Being Crazy,keeps you from going "INSANE" !! "The light at the end of the tunnel,has been turned off due to budget cuts" NOT AFRAID A Vet., and PROUD OF IT!!
Dan
ed you are the man!
stay safe
joe
Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").
Ed, thank you so much for such an adaptation of T'was the Night Before Christmas"! That was a terrific rendition! As Joe said, "You are the man", Ed.
Truly destined to become a classic of railroad literature for years to come.
Nice one, Ed.
Considering this poem as well as your story about the handcapped kid, I feel fortunate that you decided to share these with us.
Merry Christmas to one who seems to have inside him what most of us aspire to.
Jim
(It brought a smile to my face) What more can I say?
I had to dig this oldie out tonight, considering what time it is. Again, thanks for retelling it Ed.
I loved reading this as much the second time as I did the first! Thanks for bringing it back up to the top, Dan, and thanks, Ed, for such a great adaptation!
-ChrisWest Chicago, ILChristopher May Fine Art Photography"In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration." ~Ansel Adams
Thanks Chris and Dan...
Actually Chris, I was thinking about writing you and seeing if, in your "spare time" you could come up with a few photos to accompany the poem...as if you have lots and lots of spare time or something!
Wow - I'm impressed. A classic is determined by the timeless qualities of the intent and execution. Your poem has hit classic levels. Merry Christmas
Follow the adventure - http://www.croakerdiggs.com
chad thomasThat's a great one Ed. You have such a talent with words, I hope one day you publish some of your work.
.... And now you have been Way to go Ed
edblysard Actually Chris, I was thinking about writing you and seeing if, in your "spare time" you could come up with a few photos to accompany the poem...as if you have lots and lots of spare time or something!
I'd be honored! I think you've got my e-mail. If not, feel free to drop me a PM or something.
Ed's tales and Chris's photos? Sounds like a epic combo !!!!!
What a great idea... Teriffic Christmas present for ALL of Us l!!!
Now I can hardly wait.
I thought I'd bump this post as the timing seems right...thanks again Ed.
edblysard Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the yard, All the switchmen were switching, some working quite hard. The grips were all hung by the shanty with care, In the hopes that a time slip would soon show up there. The trainmasters were nestled, all snug in their beds, While visions of test failures danced in their heads. The hogger in his kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled down for a sneakey quick nap. When out in the yard there arose such a clatter, I sprang from our motor to see "what's the matter?" Away from the cab, I flew in a flash, To line all the switches, and stop a bad crash. The moon on the field of new-fallen snow Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below, When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a worn out SD40, dragging eight old reindeer. Run by an old hogger, who looked like St. Nick, I knew in a moment, I had to act quick. At yard speed the 40 down my lead he now 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 yard, we'll cross over them all, Now drag away drag away, drag away all!" As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky, So up to the top end the old 40 flew, With a gon full of toys, and Saint Nicholas too! And then in a twinkling, I heard an old horn, Blowing for the brakes, soft and forlorn. As I threw down my lantern and was turning around, Down the old 40s steps the old hogger bound. He was twitchy and wormy, from his head to his feet, His yard list all folded and sorted, quite neat. A bundle of time slips he had flung on his back, He looked like a peddler 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 of his chin was as white as the snow; The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath; He had a broad face and a little round belly, That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly. He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself; A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread; He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, He filled all those grips, then turned with a jerk, And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, to the seat box he rose, He notched out his 40, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night." With sincere apologies to the Reverend Moore...
Bravo! This was my first time reading this and I enjoyed it very much. Merry Christmas to all and have a great Christmas Day.
Bruce
So shovel the coal, let this rattler roll.
"A Train is a Place Going Somewhere" CP Rail Public Timetable
"O. S. Irricana"
. . . __ . ______
And again, anytime Chris wants to add some photos...that is, if he has time away from the red head!
I am so very glad that someone decided to bring this back to the forums today! An ironic coincidence, since I asked Ed in the Flat Wheel Cafe/Diner yesterday, if he would revive it for this Christmas. Thank you Ed, again, for writing this beautiful poem, with a railroad twist to it, and to whomever dug in the archives to bring it back up!
Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for a wonderful Christmas to everyone at Kalmbach Publishing, and the trains.com staff and forum members!!
Railfan1 Modelcar wrote: .......................Really Great....! " src="http://cs.trains.com/trccs/emoticons/icon_smile_bow.gif">
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Our own Christmas tradition!
Thank You! ED
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