Christmas Eve

The children lay in bed this special night

Holding their breath with eyes closed tight

They know the magic won’t be right

If they are found awake after midnight

Shhh, at last they hear a sound

Tinkering bells in the background

Do they dare open their eyes

And peep out at the dark skies

Will they only see the snow

Or is Santa parked across the road

They hear a creak, is it the door

Or is it the cat creeping across the floor

No this time they know for sure

It definitely was the bedroom door

Not one child dares to breathe

Or make a sound in bed this eve

They knew it was he creeping across the floor

Even quieter than the year before

Will he leave me a doll’s house

Some toy soldiers and a sugar mouse

There’s a lot of rattling, a creak, a groan

Now he’s finally leaving our home

We wait in bed for what seems like hours

Until we’re sure the house is ours

Then we are all out of bed

Feeling around to see what’s been left

Our sacks are full, O what joy

We have been good girls and boys

We feel around and shake each one

To us Christmas day has begun

But suddenly out of the dark

GET BACK TO BED! The grown-ups bark.