Twas the night before Christmas in 221B,
Was a wide-eyed detective unable to sleep.
Pipe after pipe was smoked with growing despair,
In the hopes that an answer would come from thin air.
The doctor was nestled all snug in his bed,
Unaware of his companion's worry and dread.
The prefect present had not been found yet,
And normally aloof Holmes is getting upset.
When out on the street there rose such a clatter,
He sprang from his chair to see what was the matter.
Away to the window he flew like a flash,
Tearing open the shutters and ripping the sash.
The moon reflecting off the fresh-fallen snow,
Which helped to make the empty London street glow,
Showed a strange old driver, so lively and quick,
That Holmes wondered if this was some sort of trick.
A more outlandish transport he had never seen,
Was this a hallucination from the caffeine?
Holmes stared at amazement as they came in to land,
It was all a bit more than he could understand.
"Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now Prancer and Vixen!
On Comet! On Cupid! On Donder and Blitzen!"
From Buckingham to Rotherhithe, Billingsgate to Pall Mall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"
And suddenly there was a thump from above his head,
Holmes hoped Watson wasn't awoken from bed.
A small ring of bells and soft footsteps were heard,
The detective's mind told him that this was absurd.
A noise from the fireplace brought him whirling around,
As down the chimney the man came with a bound.
He was dressed all in red from his head to his foot,
Though his clothes were stained with ashes and soot.
There was a sack full of presents upon his back,
Holmes tensed, anticipating a surprise attack,
But he smiled and his eyes danced with merriment,
Holmes relaxed, but inquired as to his intent.
He had a broad face and a great round belly
That, as he laughed, shook like a bowlful of jelly.
Not in the mood for a joke Holmes sent him a glare,
But the next words made him soften and stare.
"Your search for a gift has been unsuccessful so far,
But your resolve shows what a good friend you are."
Holmes had to agree he had been stumped for a gift,
But soon his odd visitor made his spirit's lift.
He presented a parcel with a red bow,
Leaving two more behind before turning to go.
Holmes glanced at the gift wrapped in paper so plain
The man had gone by the time he looked up again
He sprang to the door and dashed swift to the street
But the sleigh was making a hasty retreat.
But Holmes heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight,
"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"