Tuesday, December 14, 2010

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS (Noche Buena)




THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS



(NOCHE BUENA)

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the casa,
Not a creature was stirring. Caramba !Que Pasa!



Los niños were all tucked away in their camas,
Some in long underwear, some in pijamas.




While Mama worked late in her little cocina,
El viejo
was down at the corner cantina



Living it up with amigos, Carracho!
Muy contento and poco borracho!



While hanging the stockings with mucho cuidado;
In hopes that old Santa would feel Obligado



To bring all the chidren, both buenos and malos,
A nice batch of dulces and other regalos,



Outside in the yard there arose such a grito
That I jumped to my feet like a frightened cabrito.



I ran to the window and looked out afuera,
And who in the world do you think that it era?



St. Nick in a sleigh and a big red sombrero
Came dashing along like a crazy bombero!




And pulling his sleigh, instead of venados,
Were eight little burros, approaching volados.



I watched as they came, and this quaint little hombre
Was shouting and whistling and calling by nombre



"Ay, Pancho! Ay, Pepe! Ay, Cuca! Ay Beto!
Ay Chato, Ay Chope! Maruca Y Nieto!"




Then standing erect with his hand on his pecho,
He flew to the top of our own techo.



With his round little belly like a bowl of jalea,
He struggled to squeeze down our old chimenea



Then, huffing and puffing, at last in our sala,
With soot smeared all over his red suit de gala



He filled all the stockings with lovely regalos,
For none of the niños had been very malos.



Then chuckling aloud, seeming very contento,
He turned like a flash and was gone like the viento.



And I heard him exclaim- and this is verdad-
Merry Christmas to all! Feliz Navidad!









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