‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (a Traveler's Tale)
'Twas the night before Christmas, when in the airport
Restless creatures were stirring, in their suits and their shorts;
Cell phone-calls were placed to their homes with great care,
In hopes that they’d soon join their families out there;
The children had eaten and, shining with glory,
Were hoping their dad would come home with a story;
And mom on her laptop, and with my PDA
We were texting as usual, the events of the day,
When out on the tarmac there ‘rose from asunder,
A sudden hail-storm, with bright lightning and thunder!
Away to the window I flew, senses numbing,
I cocked up my ear; some announcements were coming!
"Get used to your seats," the robotic voice sounded,
This storm is huge and our planes are all grounded!
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
Big Army cargo planes, decked with rain gear!
Ignoring the weather and landing with ease,
Eight rescue planes brought us all to our knees!
More rapid than eagles these planes came with pride,
With unique Christmas names all inscribed on the side:
There was Dasher, and Dancer, and Prancer, and Vixen!
Then came Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen!
From the ends of the runways, they came for the gates,
I ran to the jet-way, I just couldn’t wait!
Each plane taxied in and pulled to a stop,
The terminal was silent, from the bars to the shops.
We all looked through security and counted their staff,
Then we pushed past the TSA guards and we laughed!
As we boarded the planes with a laugh and a wink,
The whole plane was 1st class so we all ordered drinks!
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the aisle, the pilot came with a bound.
He was dressed in tan-camo, from his feet to his hands,
He appeared to have come from a far-away land;
All that he had was rolled into a pack,
That he wore on his shoulders and high on his back.
His eyes were affixed with determination,
So glad was he to be back in our nation!
"Take a seat," the man said, near the plane’s radar dome,
We’re leaving this place and we’re all headed home!
We all settled in with our glasses held high,
We toasted our pilot, (we knew he could fly);
Buckled up, we relaxed as our plane left that station,
And all eight of those planes lined up in formation.
We sliced through the wind and the hail and the rain,
Never was I in a steadier plane!
A wink of their eyes and the click of a ‘mic,
Sent each pilot heading for home and the like.
I stared out the window a grew a bit nervous,
Have I really thanked them enough for their service?
With our plane touching down in a place that I knew,
Thoughts of my family filled my heart and it grew;
I sprang from my seat to give the pilot a hug,
And to offer him shelter and a frosty cold mug!
"No Thanks," the man said, and he pointed his finger,
"I have other stops, so I can’t stay and linger!"
But I heard him exclaim, ere he flew out of sight,
"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."
