'Twas the Night Before Christmas at Wild Dunes Resort

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the Resort

Not a creature was stirring, not even a stork

The stockings were hung by the check in desk with care

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their vacation rental beds

While visions of building sandcastles danced in their heads.

Mama in her beach coverup, and I in my vest

Had just settled down for a comfortable rest,

When out by the pools there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed wondering- what was the matter?

Away to the window I flew like the breeze

Threw open the blinds and looked out at the palm trees.

The moon on the breast of the beach’s smooth sand,

Gave the luster of summer to objects on hand.

When, what to my sun speckled 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 waves his courses they came

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name.

Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer and Vixen

On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner and Blitzen.

To the top of the Village, to the Sweetgrass wall

Now dash away, dash away, dash away all. 

As dry leaves that before the fall winds fly

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.

So up to the Hotel-top the courses they flew,

With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof

As I drew in my hand, and was turning around

Onto the balcony St. Nicholas came with a bound

Dressed all in red, he let out a cheerful chuckle heard across the land,

His clothes were all tarnished with pluff mud and sand

A bundle of beach toys, he hoisted in hand.

His eyes, how they twinkled, his dimples so merry

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry.

He had a broad face and little round belly

That shook, when he laughed like a bowl of Charleston pepper 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

And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk

Laying his finger on his smile with a wink

He dashed to the door and was gone in a blink.

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

Merry Christmas Wild Dunes, and to all a good night!

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