'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS AT PORCUPINE, S.D.

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the tipi,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a cici.

The moccasins were laid by the campfire with care,
In hopes that Waziya soon would be there!

The Wakanyeja were nestled all snug in their skins,
While visions of Wojapi and fry bread drooled down their chins;
And Mama in her shawl, and I in my braid,
Had just settled our brains for dreams to be made,
When out on the prairie there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my deerskin to see what was the matter.

Away to the door I flew like a deer,
Tore open the flap through the night to peer.
The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow,
Gave a lustre of midday to objects below.

When what to my wondering eyes did I see below,
But a miniature drag and eight tiny Buffalo.
I knew in a moment it must be Chief Nick.
More rapid than Eagles his coursers they came,
And he whooped, and he howled, and he called them by name;

Now Wanji, Now Yamni, Now Zaptan, and Nunpa!
On Salpe, on Sakowan, on Sagalogan and Topa!
To the top of the ridge, to the top of the hide,
Now dash away, dash away, now let us ride!

As dry leaves that before the wild Hawk fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the tipi top the coursers they flew,
With a drag full of games, and Waziya, too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the ground,
The prancing and pawing on each little mound.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Over the campfire Waziya leaped with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his buckskin was all tarnished with dirt and soot;
A bundle of games he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes, how they twinkled!
His dimples, how Merry!
His cheeks were like Rose, his nose like Chokecherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the braid on his head was as white as the snow;
And the smoke circled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly
That shook when he laughed,
Like a bowlful of buffalo-berry jelly.

He was chubby and fat, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
Then filled all the mocassins, and turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the tent pole he rose.

He sprang to his drag, to his team gave a jingle,
And away they all flew, soaring like an Eagle.

But I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight,
Merry Christmas to ALL and to all a Good-night!

'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS AT PORCUPINE'

NOTE: in 1982, the 5th grade class of Sister
Cindy at Our Lady of Lourdes School in Porcupine
created an Indian version of the popular Christmas
poem, "The Night Before Christmas". The second graders
at OLL presented it at their Christmas program
that year as Santa and his reindeer arrived,
Lakota style.

Another Christmas Greeting click here

Contents

December 2005 Reports

Last updated on December 19, 2005