#The dash poem short version full#

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,Īnd his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.Ī bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,Īnd he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack. The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.Īs I drew in my head, and was turning around,ĭown the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

#The dash poem short version full#

With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.Īnd then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky. Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!'Īs dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, Donner and Blitzen! 'Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,Īnd he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name! With a little old driver, so lively and quick, When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,īut a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer. Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap. While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.Īnd mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap, The children were nestled all snug in their beds, In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house It was not until 1844 that Clement Clarke Moore claimed ownership when the work was included in a book of his poetry. The first publication date was 23rd December 1823 and it was an immediate success. The condition of publication was that the author of Twas the night before Christmas was to remain anonymous. Butler, sent a copy of the poem to the New York Sentinel who published the poem. Nicholas, the patron saint of children, had never been associated with a sleigh or reindeers!Ĭlement Moore, the author of the poem Twas the night before Christmas, was a reticent man and it is believed that a family friend, Miss H. Prior to the creation of the story of 'Twas the night before Christmas' St. The poem 'Twas the night before Christmas' has redefined our image of Christmas and Santa Claus. It is now the tradition in many American families to read the poem every Christmas Eve. Clement Clarke Moore (1779 - 1863) wrote the poem Twas the night before Christmas also called “A Visit from St.