‘Twas The Night Before Christmas'
Dominican Version

"Twas the night before Christmas
And all through the casa
Not a creature was stirring
--Caramba! Que Pasa

Los ninos were tucked
Away in their camas
Some in long underwear
Some in pajamas

While hanging the stockings
With mucho cuidado
In hopes that old Santa
Would feel obligado

To bring all the children
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

Saint 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 my nombre:

“Ay Pancho ay Pepe
Ay Cuco, ay Beto,
Ay Chato, ay Chopo,
Macuco y Nieto!&rdquo

Then standing erect
With his hands on his pecho
He flew to the top
Of our very own techo

With his round little belly
Like a bowl of jalea
He struggled to squeeze
Down our old chiminea

The 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 ninos
Had been very malos

Then chuckling aloud
Seeming very contento
He turned in a flash
And was gone like the viento

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

Thank you for submitting the poem to Cindy, Editor and Chief Costambar Monthly