Not a creature was stirring, not a soul was awake.
Papa and I were glum and alone...
We prayed that the Coronavirus soon would be gone.
We thought of the grand boys, home in their beds,
While visions of nerf-guns danced in their heads,
Tasso and Leo and Tommy, so dear,
Oh, how I miss them, I sniffed with a tear.
Then Papa decided to set out some poles,
To catch a big fish, that was his goal,
But, also to take his mind off the boys,
To forget how lonely it was without noise.
Down at the pier, Papa cast out his lure,
Crossing his fingers, and hoping to score.
A Bass would be good, or a Muskie, might,
Then he sat down to wait, enjoying the night.
The moon in the sky, shone down on the snow,
And the stars how they twinkled, oh, how they glowed.
As I gazed out the window...I yelped, with a fright!
For there on the lawn, the most preposterous sight...
An animal party, a band so faire,
A badger, a fox, and a big black bear.
They huddled together, out there by the wood,
And, I saw in that moment, perhaps they were good.
They looked up and saw me, and gave a small bow,
Then started to dance, as space would allow.
They all had an instrument, and knew how to play,
Jolly Yuletide music, to honor the day.
I couldn’t believe it, there was magic all right,
A droll little band, out there in the night.
Snowflakes were falling, a full moon, too,
A Christmas miracle, I knew it was true.
Just about then, Papa came up the stairs,
Carrying a bucket and all of his wares,
Startled to see that big wooly bear,
And all of his cohorts, frolicking there.
The spell was then broken, the animals fled,
Except that big bear, ‘Grrrrrrrrowl’, he said.
Papa dropped his bucket, quickly backing away,
And, out jumped a Muskie, his prize of the day!
‘Old Gray’ was a legend ‘round Presque Isle Lake,
Fishermen told stories of his smooth getaways,
Now Papa had hooked him, it was quite a snare,
Only to lose him, right there to that bear.
The black bear leaned over, he grabbed for the fish,
Before it could wiggle away, as it wished.
But, slippery and slimy, Old Gray seemed to know,
He could escape fate, if he didn’t move slow.
A flop to the ground, then a flip to the pier,
Old Gray seemed determined to get out of there.
He maneuvered his way to the edge of the stair,
Then, took a huge leap, up high in the air.
As he headed straight down, back into the lake,
I saw him twist ‘round, and give a sly wink,
And I heard that fish laugh, as he dove out of sight,
HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOODNIGHT!
