`Twas the night before Christmas and here in our keep,
	The grown ups are snoring, but the children can't sleep.
They're quite tired, clearly, it's late in the night,
	it's just that they're thinking 'bout things of the light.

The grown ups can sleep only 'cause they know, 
	if they stay up all night how the next day will go.
They're probably excited, they probably feel glee,
	but they've learned about time, and so, aren't quite as free.

The young ones are restless, they turn and they toss,
	there's even frustration, still this is no loss.
Lightness pervades them, allows no disguise,
	they have smiles on their faces and innocent eyes.

Now dawn is approaching, it's almost arrived.
	Chilled stairs are creaking, cold feet feel alive.
But wait, there's a problem, not everyone's here.
	That isn't an option at this time of year.

They want to keep sleeping, but there is no doubt, 
	the day has begun and there's Christmas about.
So downstairs they stumble, that blur, it's the tree.
	Some things near their kneecaps are bubbling glee.

Now begin a few hours, with or without the toys,
	when the world is distilled into pure, simple joy.

This leaves only one problem, abundantly clear, 
	this magic is reserved for just one day every year. 
Now here cynics will tell you "It's life that's to blame. 
	The world's full of coldness, of fear and of pain."

They'll say "I didn't ask to be hurt and betrayed. 
	Life isn't easy and my hair has turned gray.
It's no easy thing, this being alive, 
	most of the time it's enough to survive."

If that's how you see it, then surely you're right, 
	off gently you go into that prosaic good night.

But just for this moment, right now, here today, 
	remember that all of us came here to play.
Step out of the normal, trust your heart, suspend lies. 
	From here everything sparkles, through innocent eyes.

Merry Christmas... Or if that offends you in some way... 
Happy Holidays! ;-)