I found this updated version of the Christmas classic floating around the Internet. Hope it adds a little merriment to your day.
Twas the night before Christmas, and in a cyberspace “House”
Many souls stirred, now clicking their mouse.
Warm messages were sent, through the lines with care,
as merry yuletide greetings sang in the air.
The people now met, from all through the land
In “Mucks” and “IRC's” and chat rooms to hand
These festive wishes which left no doubt
Of the peace and happiness the season was about.
And me in my nightclothes now seeing it quite late
Prepared to log off, to rest for the date
That now was only some hours away,
For all too soon, it would be Christmas day.
My finger hovered over the exiting key
When what to my wondering eyes did I see!
A small moving icon did appear on the screen
And for a moment I thought, “this *must* be a dream”.
Nine reindeer now flew, one with a red nose,
Pulling a sleigh and up they all rose,
As a jolly old driver now called them by name
And I stared in wonderment as I knew of their fame.
Prancing in the air, to the top of my page,
They landed quite deftly, setting the stage,
For the one called Saint Nick as he smiled at me
Letting me know I had no reason to flee.
Seeing this I relaxed, and sighed with relief,
For I knew that this vision would cause me no grief.
No figment was he, no vision brought on,
By an addled brain that was too far gone
Or a “virus” of some sort, to lead me to think
That my entire system was now on the blink.
He spoke not a word but went straight to work,
And leaping from the sleigh, turned with a jerk.
To the icon of my mailbox I watched him now stride
And opening the cover, he slipped quickly inside,
A wrapped gift taken from the sack on his sleigh,
And raising the “flag” was then on his way.
Leaping to his sleigh to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down on a thistle
But I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all! And to all a good night!”
