Twas the night before Christmas–In Red Lake

It was 1:41 when Mrs. Claus nudged me awake.
“Huh?” I said sleepy
as I blinked my first take.

She was short, five feet only.
Her hair was all white.
Her most beautiful feature
her look of delight,
that she could give presents
this cool Christmas night.

Her look of excitement,
contagious it was,
made me smile in turn
through my own sleepy fuzz.

“Where’s Santa?”  I asked,
“Why didn’t he come?”
“He’s busy.” She whispered,
“We all have to pitch in,
if we’re to serve everyone.”

She motioned me out
to the sleigh which await.
But first I got dressed
‘fore I passed the front gate.

I put on my hat with its flaps ’round my ears
as I followed this lady advanced in her years,
in my boots with their strings all untied
and my PJ’s as we trudged through the snow,
to the sleigh waiting outside,
’cause it is cold, in Red Lake as you know.

She loaded me up with presents not few
and after delivering each load
I was greeted anew
by many others, until we were through.

Now back inside, she pulled out our socks
and proceeded to load them
from her own generous stocks.
She had candy and trinkets
and gift cards and such
I couldn’t believe she was giving so much.

And when all was done,
she gave me a hug.
Then said “Go back to bed you sleepy big lug.”

With her wink and my blink
she was gone in a flash,
leaving me standing  beside a big stash.

How I savor the moments
now that I’m back in my bed
of Mrs. Claus’s visit
still fresh in my head.