T'was the Night before Christmas: UL Cajuns Edition
T'was the night before Christmas, when all through the school,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mule.
Dr. Savoie's stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that Cayenne soon would be there.
The students were nestled, all snug in their beds,
While visions of aced exams danced in their heads.
And Dr. Alciatore in her lab coat, and Jim Foret in his vest,
Had just settled their brains after long finals tests.
When out in the swamp, there arose such a clatter,
They sprang from their offices to see what was the matter.
Away to the swamp they flew like a flash,
Tore open their textbooks and made a big splash.
The moon on the bayou with new- fallen leaves.
Gave the feelings of swamp life and made the teachers sneeze .
When, the teachers walked into the swamp; they ceased,
when they spotted a miniature pirogue, and eight tiny fleur-de-lis.
With a shiny red pepper, so lively as it ran,
I knew in a moment it must be Cayenne.
More rapid than gumbo boiling, they scanned.
He whistled, and shouted, and summoned his clan!
"Now, Boudreaux! now, Thibodeaux ! now, Broussard and Chiasson!
On, Comeaux! On Robicheaux! on, Benoit and Babineau!
To the top of the trees! to the top of the cypress knees!
Now swim away! Swim away! Swim away all!"
As dry leaves that before the southern hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, and looked to the sky.
So up to Mount Griffin, the Cajuns they flew,
With the sleigh full of presents, and Cayenne too.
And then, in a twinkling, they heard foot steppers.
The dancing and prancing of each little pepper
As Jim drew in his head, and was twirling around,
Down the tree trunk Cayenne came with a bound.
He was dressed in all cajun apparel, from his head to his stem,
And his clothes were all covered in moss to the brim.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a craw-fisherman, just opening his sack.
His eyes-how they twinkled! His dimples how merry!
His cheeks, red like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His little Cajun mouth was drawn up like a hunting bow,
And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his stem like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a big Cajun belly,
That shook when he chuckled, like a bowl full of jelly!
He was chubby and round, a red jolly Cajun man,
And Jim yelled AIYEE when he saw him, as loud he can!
A shake of his stem and a twist of his head,
Soon gave Dr. Alciatore to know she had nothing to dread.
Cayenne spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then two stepped with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the tree trunk he rose!
He sprang to his pirogue, to his team gave an AIYEE,
And away the fleur-de-lis all flew, YIPEE!
But I heard him exclaim, when he flew out of sight,
" Happy Cajun Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"
