The Night Before Tomorrow

The Night Before Tomorrow

Twas the night before tomorrow, and I didn’t have a clue.
For Christmas was near, there was still so much to do!
Stockings weren’t hung by the chimney with care,
We didn’t have one, and that just wasn’t fair.

It was snowy outside, it was really quite cold.
For the first time ever, I really felt old.
I felt a little tired and donned my jammies,
Wondering if I’d ever get to Miami.

Then out in the yard all hell broke loose,
People were screaming like a scared silly goose.
I ran down the hallway and opened the door,
Prepared to give them all a good ‘What for’?

When I opened the door, I saw their faces,
So young and innocent but still very anxious.
“What’s going on? What’s the matter?
You know there’s no need for all this clatter.”

Standing in front of me were eight young children.
Each of them smiling, but their eyes did glisten.
They shivered with cold as the wind blew hard,
I had to get them inside and out of the yard.

“Its freezing outside, get in here each of you,
Get in from that cold before your fingers turn blue!”
I know I must be getting old for I don’t know your names.
If you’ve told me before, please tell me again.”

“Names aren’t important; what is, is the message we bring.
What really does matter is that you’ve forgotten how to sing.
Your heart has grown gray, like the hair on your head,
You were always so happy, now you spend your days in bed.”

I looked at them all in sheer amazement and awe,
And for the first time in years, I finally saw.
I knew in an instant they were absolutely right,
That now was the time; I’d change my life that night.

I went to the kitchen to get hot chocolate so warm,
But when I got back to the room, they were all gone.
I searched all around, then ran quickly to the door,
Running faster than I had just a little bit before.

The children were gone, but where did they go?
For outside, there were no tracks in the snow.
Had I been dreaming? I remember there were 6 at the most,
Were they just imaginary or perhaps even ghosts?

There was a sign outside that I hadn't seen before, I know,
For that matter, why were Christmas lights on it all aglow?
It was cold, so cold, but beautiful all the same,
I felt so alive, and smiled over and over again

I had to know the message that was displayed on the sign.
And walked outside, seeing with eyes no longer blind.
Tears came to my eyes at its beautiful sight,
It said, “Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a Good Night!”

Jim Dorrell
12/07/08