A Visit from St. Nicholas

A Visit(ˈvizit) from St.(sānt) Nicholas(ˈnik(ə)ləs)

By Clement(e) Clarke Moore(mo͝or)

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature(ˈkrēCHər) was stirring(ˈstəriNG), not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung(həNG) by the chimney(ˈCHimnē) with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled(ˈnesəl) all snug(snəg) in their beds;

While visions(ˈviZHən) of sugar-plums(plums) danced in their heads;

And mamma(ˈmämə) in her ‘kerchief(ˈkərCHəf, ˈkərˌCHēf), and I in my cap,

Had just settled(ˈsetl) our brains(brān) for a long winter’s nap,

When out on the lawn(lôn) there arose(əˈrōz) such a clatter(ˈklatər),

I sprang(spraNG) from my bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew(flo͞o) like a flash,

Tore(tôr) open the shutters(ˈSHətər) and threw(THro͞o) up the sash(saSH).

The moon on the breast(brest) of the new-fallen(ˈfôlən) snow,

Gave a lustre(ˈləstər) of midday(ˈmidˈdā) to objects below,

When what to my wondering eyes did appear,

But a miniature(ˈmin(ē)əCHər) sleigh(slā) and eight tiny(ˈtīnē) rein(rān)-deer,

With a little old driver so lively(ˈlīvlē) and quick(kwik),

I knew in a moment he must be St. Nick.

More rapid(ˈrapid) than eagles(ˈēgəl) his coursers(ˈkôrsər) they came,

And he whistled(ˈ(h)wisəl), and shouted, and called them by name:

“Now, Dasher(ˈdaSHər)! now, Dancer! now Prancer(prans) and Vixen(ˈviksən)!

On, Comet(ˈkämit)! on, Cupid(ˈkyo͞opəd)! on, Donner and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch(pôrCH)! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”

As leaves(lēv) that before the wild(wīld) hurricane(ˈhə-ri-,ˈhəriˌkān
) fly,

When they meet with an obstacle(ˈäbstəkəl), mount to the sky;

So up to the housetop(ˈhousˌtäp) the coursers(ˈkôrsər) they flew(flo͞o)

With the sleigh(slā) full of toys, and St. Nicholas too—

And then, in a twinkling(ˈtwiNGkəl), I heard on the roof

The prancing(prans) and pawing(pô) of each little hoof(ho͝of,ho͞of).

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur(fər), from his head to his foot,

And his clothes(klō(T͟H)z) were all tarnished(ˈtärniSH) with ashes(aSH) and soot(so͝ot);

A bundle(ˈbəndl) of toys he had flung(fləNG) on his back,

And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack.

His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples(ˈdimpəl), how merry(ˈmerē)!

His cheeks(CHēk) were like roses(rōz), his nose like a cherry(ˈCHerē)!

His droll(drōl) little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard(bi(ə)rd) on his chin(CHin) was as white as the snow;

The stump(stəmp) of a pipe he held(held) tight(tīt) in his teeth,

And the smoke, it encircled(enˈsərkəl) his head like a wreath(rēTH);

He had a broad(brôd) face and a little round belly(ˈbelē)

That shook(SHo͝ok) when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly(ˈjelē).

He was chubby(ˈCHəbē) and plump(pləmp), a right jolly(ˈjälē) old elf(elf),

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite(spīt) of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread(dred);

He spoke not a word, but went straight(strāt) to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk(jərk),

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod(näd), up the chimney he rose(rōz);

He sprang to his sleigh(slā), to his team gave a whistle(ˈ(h)wisəl),

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle(ˈTHisəl).

But I heard him exclaim(ikˈsklām), ere(e(ə)r) he drove(drōv) out of sight(sīt
)—

“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and-poets/poems/detail/43171
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Visit_from_St._Nicholas