A Christmas Poem

[leanin' H]

'Twas the night before Christmas & out on the ranch

The pond was froze over & so was the branch.

The snow was piled up belly-deep to a mule.

The kids were all home on vacation from school,

And happier young folks you never did see-

Just all sprawled around a-watchin' TV.

Then suddenly, some time around 8 o'clock,

There came a surprise that gave them a shock!

The power went off, the TV went dead!

When Grandpa came in from out in the shed

With an armload of wood, the house was all dark.

"Just what I expected," they heard him remark.

"Them power line wires must be down from the snow.

Seems sorter like times on the ranch long ago."

"I'll hunt up some candles," said Mom. "With their light,

And the fireplace, I reckon we'll make out all right."

The teen-agers all seemed enveloped in gloom.

Then Grandpa came back from a trip to his room,

Uncased his old fiddle & started to play

That old Christmas song about bells on a sleigh.

Mom started to sing, & 1st thing they knew

Both Pop & the kids were all singing it, too.

They sang Christmas carols, they sang "Holy Night,"

Their eyes all a-shine in the ruddy firelight.

They played some charades Mom recalled from her youth,

And Pop read a passage from God's Book of Truth.

They stayed up till midnight-and, would you believe,

The youngsters agreed 'twas a fine Christmas Eve.

Grandpa rose early, some time before dawn;

And when the kids wakened, the power was on..

"The power company sure got the line repaired quick,"

Said Grandpa - & no one suspected his trick.

Last night, for the sake of some old-fashioned fun,

He had pulled the main switch - the old Son-of-a-Gun!

-anonymous

 

[gcreekrch]

Good one H. I can see my Father In Law pulling that off.

 

[Soapweed]

Great poem. Thanks for posting it, Leanin' H.

Our power was off from 5 p.m. Wednesday evening until noon Thursday (yesterday). Peach, Sunflower, and I put on our jackets and sat around the kitchen table that evening. With only candles for light, the ladies took turns reading Christmas letters from friends. The experience was special in its own unique way. :wink:

 

[burnt]

Great poem! We spent this morning opening gifts with our four kids - just a really beautiful, enjoyable time with no cell phones, just a call from family wishing us a Merry Christmas.

In a while we will have Christmas dinner with our kids, 2 of our sons girlfriends and one of my youngest son's co-workers who would have spent Christmas by himself otherwise.

I would not think Christmas would be the same without family and friends around. We are so blessed!

 

[Jassy]

What a fun poem...we too lost power and got along just fine..plenty of food and water..got a tad bit chilly..but it's amazing what conversations you can have just by candlight! Merry Christmas

 

[leanin' H]

We lost our power at 5 pm Christmas eve. It came back on at 8 pm but only for half an hour. Then it was off until 2 am. We had my folks and brother's and their families over for dinner by the light of kerosene lamps! Didn't miss a beat with a hot wood stove for heat and falimy gathered round. The best part about going to our ranch is the solitude. No power, phone, TV. Even cell coverage is spotty. It's wonderful!