Twas The Night Before Something. (An Autism Christmas)
Twas the night before something,
I wasn't sure why
everyone seemed too busy,
no massage, no high fives.
These red things were hung
by the chimney with care,
they looked like big socks
but you put stuff in there.
My brother was nestled
all snug in his bed,
while visions of chaos
danced in my head.
My mom in her calm voice
and dad with his pecs
both tried to explain about
what's coming next.
But before they assured me
there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my swing
to see what was the matter.
Away to the window
I flew like a flash,
I was stimming, head banging
just what was that crash?
The moon on the breast
of the new-fallen snow
glared right at my eyes
like a fluorescent light show.
When what to my dull,
aching eyes should appear,
but a miniature sleigh
and eight tiny reindeer.
With a little old driver,
so lively and quick,
I wished he would slow down
and show me a pic.
More rapid than lightning,
I felt all my fears
as his outdoor voice rumbled..
I covered my ears.
"Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now Prancer and Vixen! On Comet! On Cupid! On Donner and Blitzen!
It was jumbled and crumpled
like a puzzle mixed up
and I secretly hoped
all this madness would stop.
As dry leaves that before
the wild hurricane fly,
when they meet with an obstacle,
mount to the sky.
Messed up in a whirlwind,
the reindeer they flew,
with a sleigh full of things,
I knew I'd never use.
And then, without warning,
I heard on the roof,
the thumping and clawing
of each pounding hoof.
As I covered my head
and was turning around,
down the chimney a stranger
came in with a bound!
He was dressed all in fur,
from his head to his feet,
his hat was uneven,
his clothes were not neat.
He wasn't in school
but he carried a sack
so I thought he'd take mommy
and never come back.
I could not make eye contact,
His dimples were scary!
I had never seen anyone
so red-cheeked and hairy!
His droll little mouth
made me squirm in my skin,
out of panic I yanked
at the beard on his chin.
The stump of a pipe
he held tight in his teeth,
fell out of his mouth
and down to his feet.
He had a round face
and a very big belly,
it looked like he spent
too much time at the deli.
He took a deep breath
and stood in dismay,
an expression that I
could not read nor convey.
Mom scolded me quickly
I didn't know why,
she said, "gentle hands, son!"
and I started to cry.
He spoke not a word,
And filled all the big socks,
I saw no little mirrors
or smooth, shiny rocks.
And laying his finger
aside of his nose,
and giving a nod,
my anxiety rose!
He sprang to his sleigh,
to his team gave a shout,
and all I could think was,
"he's finally out!"
But I tried to exclaim,
'ere he flew cross the land,
"I'm not a bad boy,
I just don't understand!".