Poog with Kate Berlant and Jacqueline Novak - An Xmas Treat： 'Twas The Night Before Christmas

00:00:00.000 This is a special drop, the dream of little treats for the listeners at Christmastime,

00:00:06.140 part of the road to Christmas, creating atmosphere and joy.

00:00:10.240 I thought we could do a reading, a cozy reading for the listener.

00:00:15.300 Okay.

00:00:16.320 Oh, I didn't know this was what it's called, a visit from St. Nicholas.

00:00:20.680 I had no idea.

00:00:24.460 T'was the night before Christmas when all through the house,

00:00:28.160 not a creature was stirring not even a mouse the stockings were hung no i was gonna do that

00:00:33.800 okay i didn't know when to stop the stockings were hung by the chimney with care in hopes that

00:00:41.120 saint nicholas soon would be there the children were nestled all snug in their beds while visions

00:00:46.660 of sugar plums danced in their heads and mama in her kerchief and i in my cap had just settled our

00:00:53.840 brains for a long winter's nap when out on the lawn there rose such a clatter i sprang from my

00:00:59.620 bed to see what was the matter away to the window i flew like a flash tore open the shutters and

00:01:05.540 threw up the sash the moon on the breast of the newfound snow gave a luster of midday to objects

00:01:11.400 below god this is good poetry this isn't phenomenal this is better than i remember

00:01:14.960 crazy imagine writing this when what to my wondering eyes did appear a miniature sleigh

00:01:20.760 and ate tiny reindeer i actually feel the magic it's crazy i do too with a little old driver so

00:01:27.140 lively and quick i knew in a moment he must be saint nick more rapid than eagles his coursers

00:01:32.920 they came and he whistled and shouted and called them by name now dasher now dance now dasher now

00:01:40.600 dancer dancer there's a reindeer called dancer of course there is prancers and dancers that's so

00:01:45.880 cute now dasher now dancer now prancer and vixen oh comet on cupid on donder and blitzen to the

00:01:53.360 top of the porch to the top of the wall now dash away dash away dash away all as leaves that before

00:02:00.000 the wild hurricane fly when they meet with an obstacle mount to the sky so up to the housetop

00:02:06.540 the coursers they flew with a sleigh full of toys and saint nicholas too and then in a twinkling i

00:02:12.940 heard on the roof the prancing and pawing of each little hoof. So cute. As I drew in my head and was

00:02:19.660 turning around, down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. He was dressed in all fur from his

00:02:24.760 head to his foot, and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot. A bundle of toys he had flung

00:02:30.960 on his back, and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack. His eyes how they twinkled,

00:02:35.580 his dimples how merry, his cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry. His droll little mouth was

00:02:41.440 drawn up like a bow, and the beard on his chin was as white as the snow. The stump of a pipe he held 0.66

00:02:47.360 tight in his teeth, and the smoke had encircled his head like a wreath. He had a broad face and

00:02:52.300 a little round belly that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly. He was chubby and plump,

00:02:57.160 a right jolly old elf, and I laughed when I saw him in spite of myself, could cry. A wink of his

00:03:02.460 eye and a twist of his head soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. He spoke not a word but

00:03:07.540 went straight to his work and filled all the stockings then turned with a jerk and laying

00:03:12.780 his finger aside of his nose and giving a nod up the chimney he rose he sprang to his sleigh to his

00:03:17.960 team gave a whistle and away they all flew like the down of a thistle but i heard him exclaim

00:03:23.560 ere he drove out of sight happy christmas to all and to all a good night

00:03:31.340 absolutely magical i'm that's truly blown away every year we're doing a reading of this

00:03:42.460 i agree stunning have a great night merry christmas love you love you

Poog with Kate Berlant and Jacqueline Novak - December 23, 2025