- TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, ON GUAM
- 'Twas the night before Christmas, and from our boondock house,
You could not hear a gecko, a shrew, or a mouse. - The zorries were hung by the louvers with care,
In hopes that Guamanian Nick soon would be there. - The children were nestled in their G.I. beds,
While visions of base housing danced in their heads. - And Mom in her bermudas and I in my shorts,
Had just settled back for the typhoon reports. - When out on the roof there arose such a clatter,
That I climbed up a palm tree to see what was the matter. - Away to the window Mom flew like a flash,
No shutter to open, and of course there's no sash. - But the moon on the crest of the drifting sand,
Gave a luster of mid-day to this remotest of land. - A vision is approaching, ah--it's almost in view,
Why, it's a miniature cart, and eight carabou. - With a little old rider, so lively and quick,
That I knew at a glance in was Guamanian Nick. - More rapid than eagles his carabou came,
And he whistled and shouted and called them by name. - Now Manuel, Now Pedro, now Cruz and Ferrero,
On Perez, on Lujan, on Jones and Guerraro. - To the top of the cliff, to the tip of the reef,
Old Nick drove his carabou as the wind drives a leaf. - So to the thatched roof the carabou flew,
With a cart full of toys and Nick's San Miguel, too. - When all of the sudden he really did goof,
That woosy old gent fell right through the roof. - With a blackened eye and a bump on his head,
He soon let me know I had plenty to dread. - He spoke in Chamorro, and then went right to work,
He filled all the zorries, then turned with a jerk. - And laying a finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose. - He was back in a flash all covered with dirt,
And the look on his face showed his feelings were hurt. - "Where in the world is your chimney?" he then said to me,
I said we had none, which was sure plain to see. - He staggered out the door, which really was best,
But the Guamanian Police put him under arrest. - But I heard him exclaim as they drug him from sight,
"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!" - Contributed by...Section One-Communications
