A Very Hammersley Christmas
A Patrol Boat before Christmas
'Twas
the night before Christmas
and all over the ship
Not a sailor
was stirring
not even a pip
The
stockings were hung
in the main hall with care
In hopes that
St. Nicholas
soon would be there
The
junior sailors were nestled
asleep in their racks
Dreaming
visions of sugar-plums
as they lay on their backs
And
the X in her kerchief
and I in my cap
Had just settled with
cooling packs
for this hot summer nap
When
out on the quarterdeck
there arose such a clatter
I sprang from
my bunk
to see what was the matter
Away
to the bridge
I flew like a crook
Turned on the spotlights
and
had a good look
The
moon on the deck
on the newly splashed grey
Lit the place
up
like it was midday
When,
what to my wondering
eyes should appear
But a miniature
sleigh
and eight tiny reindeer
With
a little old driver
so lively and quick
I knew in a moment
it
must be St. Nick.
More
rapid than emus
his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and
shouted
and called them by name:
"Hey
Dasher, hey Dancer
hey Prancer and Vixen
Go, Comet! Go
Cupid!
go Donner and Blitzen
Over
the bulwarks
over the wall
Now dash away! Dash away!
dash
away all!"
As
dry leaves that before
the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet
with an obstacle,
mount to the sky,
So
onto to the quarterdeck
the coursers they flew
With the sleigh
full of presents
and Saint Nicholas too.
And
then with a twinkle
I looked down with glee
And saw St. Nick
smile
and look up at me
So
I drew in my head
and went without a sound
As in came St.
Nicholas
and he came with a bound
He
wore a red polo
with a red thong on each foot
And red boardies
were covered
with beer, not soot
A
bundle of gifts
he flung on his back
And he looked like a
hobo
just opening his pack
But
his eyes – how they twinkled
and his dimples, how merry!
His
cheeks were like roses
his nose like a cherry
His
droll little mouth
was drawn like a bow
But his beard was black
ragged
not white like fresh snow!
A
stump of a ciggie
held tight in his teeth
And the smoke it
encircled
his head like a wreath
He
had a broad face
and a small beer 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 in his eyes
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
And filled all
the stockings;
then turned with a jerk
And
laying his hand
back onto the door
He gave a small nod
and
he was there no more
He
sprang to his sleigh
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,
"A Hammersley
Christmas to all,
and to all a good night!"