A Hoosier Night Before Christmas
Twas the night before Christmas, and all across the state,
Nothing was improving, not even the unemployment rate;
From the banks of the Ohio to the top of the Knobs,
All they could talk about was the economy and jobs;
The residents were nestled all anxious in their beds,
While visions of toll-free bridges danced in their heads;
All the sidewalks were covered with ice and salt granules,
As they braced for more budget cuts from Governor Mitch Daniels;
Down at the New Albanian, the people had drank a few brews,
But were now settled down for a long winter’s snooze;
Then out in my backyard I heard such a clatter,
I expected to see some wild turkeys scatter;
The toys in the yard were all covered with snow,
In the moonlight I could barely see anything below;
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But an all terrain vehicle and a bevy of deer;
With a chunky little driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment twas an Indiana St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles the four wheeler flew,
And he yelled, and he shouted, at the domestic caribou;
“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Blitzen and Donder!
Let’s get this crate up into the wild blue yonder!
Like mobile homes before the wild tornado fly,
The ATV took off and mounted the sky;
So up to the roof-top the whitetails they flew,
With a bag full of goodies and Indiana Nick too;
And then, in a twinkling, I heard overhead.
Prancing and pawing like a Kentucky thoroughbred;
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney Indiana Nick came with a bound;
He was dressed all in camouflage, from his head to his toes,
And the aroma of pork tenderloin permeated his clothes;
A bagful of presents he carried on his broad back,
He looked like a trader opening a gunny sack;
His eyes sorta glared! His smile kinda scary!
His hair was disheveled, his nose like a strawberry!
On his belt hung a flashlight and a old hunting bow,
And the hair on his chin was as grey as the snow;
A dip of Wintergreen tobacco, he held tight in his cheek,
And the minty smell encircled him like a peppermint wreath;
He had a oval face and a big round belly,
He was clearly well acquainted with the Kroger deli!
But he was friendly and honest– a typical Hoosier,
I thought to myself, “Could he be a boozer?”;
But a wink of his eye and flick of his finger,
Said all was ok but I better not linger;
The miraculous gifts were what we had hoped for,
Lower taxes, no tolls, and federal bailouts galore;
He brought money for schools and a ball team that was splendid,
Then with his work complete up the chimney he ascended;
He sprang to his vehicle to his team gave a whistle,
Onward to Muncie he flew like a missile;
And I heard him exclaim as he soared out of sight,
“Happy Christmas Indiana and to all a good night!”
(From a column in the New Albany Tribune)
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