'Twas the Night Before Christmas - Redux
Mates,
Seems like it's time for an updated 'Night Before Christmas', so here goes:
'Twas the night before playoffs, when in the big house
not a wolverine was stirring, not even a mouse,
the equipment was packed in transports with care,
as the team flew to Glendale via Reindeer Air.
The players had mashed many blocking sleds
while visions of championships danced in their heads
And mamma in her kerchief and I in an 'M' cap
had just settled in for a long Christmas nap.
When out on the pasture there arose such a clatter
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter
Away to the window I flew like a flash
I wondered if a coyote needed to be kicked in the as#.
The moon on the breast of the blizzard-driven snow
Gave a lustre of midday to objects below,
When what to my wondering eyes did I see
Two team buses and Coach Jimmy!
With a whistle and play sheet, so lively and quick
I knew it was night practice, and no playoff trick.
More rapid than eagles his players they came,
And Jim whistled and shouted, and called them by name:
Now JJ, now Bell, now Roman and Schoon,
We're going to kick TCU to the moon!
To the top of the porch to the top of the wall
4 Verts! 4 Verts! Fly Patterns for all!
As defenses before the Michigan offense fly,
When our O-line crushes them, they all cry
So up to midfield and the end zone they flew
With a cart full of balls and Coach Jimmy too -
And then in a twinkling, I heard at the peak
The prancing and pawing of lots of cleats.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney Jimmy came down.
He was dressed in maize and blue, wearing khakis and boots
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
a bundle of trophies he had flung on his back
and he looked like an award host just opening his pack.
His eyes - how they twinkled, his chew, so merry,
A jaw full of spit, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And his sleigh was covered from the blizzard of snow;
He had a broad face but had lost his big belly,
so that when he laughed it no longer shook like jelly.
He was quirky, on the spectrum, a 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 worked quite steady,
He watched film and called plays and said "We're ready!"
"We might play ohio, coached by the guy on third base,
But we beat them already, and we'll murder their face.
We're headed to Arizona to crush us some Frogs,
Then we're going to LA to tame us some 'Dawgs!'.
Then He sprang to his bus, 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—
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”
Not everyone is with family and friends tonight, so this one is for those that are not. May the rest of you also enjoy your evening, your Christmas, and your loved ones. I am grateful for the time of year and for the fun and excitement of Michigan football and I hope you all are too.
Blessings to you all, and Merry Christmas!
XM
December 24th, 2022 at 7:27 PM ^
Merry Christmas to you, XM. Great job!
December 24th, 2022 at 7:52 PM ^
Thx for the shout out to those not with loved ones tonight. That's me, waiting for my 3 kiddos 9/7/4 to join me tomorrow and Monday. Been soul searching a lot the last 2+ years with a tough divorce that tracks with Brian's timeline, and I don't feel silly saying this community has provided great strength on some days. As someone who has engaged with this community pretty much daily for over 12 years, you come to realize what a uniquely special kind of bond is possible here. It's so much more than a group of people with a shared passion.
Today, I'm most grateful for my in-real-life friend that I was holed up with the last 3 days staying safe in the blizzard, processing hard shit in both our lives and distracting each other and counting the blessings amidst the challenges in her and my very *interesting* lives these days (that could always always be even harder, which is important to remember for me)
grateful for all your contributions to this community, too, XM! Best to you and yours!!
December 24th, 2022 at 8:08 PM ^
aw Z, so sorry for the disruption in your life. being away from your kids, especially at those ages, has to be brutal. glad you have a pal to spend productive and helpful time with. hope you got a smile out of the redux on the old poem.
December 24th, 2022 at 9:05 PM ^
DP *Trainspotting joke*
December 24th, 2022 at 9:06 PM ^
Loved it! And last years and the year prior. Who doesn't love a good holiday tradition 😎
December 24th, 2022 at 11:03 PM ^
can't believe you remembered, much less found, that one.
December 24th, 2022 at 8:01 PM ^
Great OP, but you forgot, what are you drinking?
December 24th, 2022 at 8:10 PM ^
glad you enjoyed it SDW. merry Christmas.
is possible there is a coffee cup that says in faded blue letters: 'michigan wolverines' very close to me now. and it has some red pop in it. very possible.
December 24th, 2022 at 8:33 PM ^
XM it’s slow going. Having a bit of trouble with the wind and the bridge. Leave the lantern on in the barn for me.
December 24th, 2022 at 8:50 PM ^
chores are done. snow plowed/blown/loaded out of the way. you can take your time now.
barn cat has a heat lamp now that he's getting old. i suggest you snuggle up to him (leo), he's pretty cool and will enjoy the companionship.
December 24th, 2022 at 8:34 PM ^
Merry Christmas to you and yours, XM.
December 24th, 2022 at 10:34 PM ^
Well done. Love it. I have but one suggestion: coach wears cleats not boots, although maybe you are outside the US given the "mates" greeting :)
December 24th, 2022 at 11:03 PM ^
boots rhymes (kind of) with soot, so boots it was.
December 24th, 2022 at 11:10 PM ^
Thanks XM. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
December 24th, 2022 at 11:58 PM ^
Merry Christmas
December 25th, 2022 at 12:44 AM ^
Nice, and Merry Xmas to you and yours! Can you see your roof? Just crazy winds and light blowing snow here in SE MI. Mostly done.
December 25th, 2022 at 2:16 AM ^
Merry Christmas.
Happy Hanukkah.
Peaceful holiday to all.
And a henceforth happy happy.
December 25th, 2022 at 10:52 AM ^
Merry Christmas XM
Great work!
December 25th, 2022 at 12:02 PM ^
Terrific job! The only thing better is the event that provided your inspiration. Here's hoping you would turn out to be as prescient as you are poetic!
December 25th, 2022 at 5:15 PM ^
Hell Yeah -- excellent job!!
Merry Christmas XM!!
December 25th, 2022 at 6:14 PM ^
Outstanding! Merry Christmas to all 🎅🎄!
December 25th, 2022 at 10:49 PM ^
Merry Christmas to all my fellow MGoBloggers and to all a good Christmas night!
And thanks in particular to you, XM, for updating this with blizzardy U of M references and posting it for everyone to enjoy, hopefully you and your family had a wonderful Christmas today.
December 26th, 2022 at 6:31 AM ^
thanks rob. and yeah, wonderful day yesterday and i hope yours was the same. all the kids home. i'm still full from dinner last night.