T’was the Night Before Christmas on Don Pedro Island

T’was the night before Christmas and all around

No noses were frozen, no snow fluttered down.

No children in flannels were tucked into bed,

They all wore their shorty pajamas instead!

To find wreaths of holly was not very hard,

For holly trees grow in everyone’s yard.

In front of the houses were daddies and moms,

Adorning the mangroves and coconut palms.

The slumbering kiddies were dreaming in glee and hoped they’d find water skis under the tree.

They all knew that Santa was well on his way,

driving a boat instead of a sleigh!

Soon he arrived and started to work – 

He hadn’t a moment to linger or shirk.

He whizzed down the Intracoastal and up each lagoon,

Delivering his presents and not a moment too soon.

The tropical moon gave the island a glow,

And lighted the way for Santa below.

He jumped from his boat, gave a quick smile,

He was dressed in jams, looking very in style!

He stopped at each house, staying a minute,

And emptied his sack of all the goodies in it.

Before he departed he treated himself

To a glass of papaya juice left on the shelf.

He turned with a jerk, bounced back on the boat, Hoping, of course, it would still be afloat.

He switched on the running lights, gave it some gas, Down the waterway he streaked, 

heading for the Pass.

And I heard him exclaim as he went on his way,

“Merry Christmas, dear island! 

I wish I could stay!”

– Dick and Jane of Palm Island, 1987