Post by Gray Ghost on Dec 24, 2003 18:25:49 GMT -5
T'WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
BY
RICHARD FRANK AND ALTERED SLIGHTLY BY
GRAY GHOST
Twas the night before Christmas when down by the stream
The full moon looked out on a chill winter scene.
A lone trout was sipping a midge in his brook,
Untroubled by worries of fishers with hooks.
Then from above a small sleigh did appear
Pulled by a brace of eight tiny reindeer.
It swerved of a sudden and down it did glide,
Settling its runners along the streamside.
The fat, jolly driver dove into his sled
And emerged with his Bamboo held high over head.
"Thank you my elves for this wand smooth as silk.
This break will be better than cookies and milk."
So saying, he jumped from his sleigh with a chuckle,
Hiked up his boots and cinched up his belt buckle.
Santa meant business that cold winter's eve.
A fish he would catch - that you'd better believe.
Looking upstream and down, he spotted that trout,
Then he opened his flybox and took something out -
"Size 32 midges are only for faddists
I'll go with my favorite streamer a grey ghost not a caddis."
So he cast out his line with a magical ease
And his fly wet-lined down just as pretty as you please.
And it drifted drag free down the trout's feeding lane,
But the fish merely wiggled a fin of distain.
"Oh grey ghost, oh black ghost, oh sculpin, oh nine three,
Oh blue devil, oh olive bugger, oh golden witch !
I've seen every fly in the book and every anglers box.
I'm old and I'm wary and sly as a fox. To catch me tonight
you will have to pull something serious out of your box.
To catch me you'll need an unusual gift,
For a present this common no fin will I lift."
Old Nick scratched his head for his time it grew short
The reindeer behind him did shuffle and snort.
He looked once again in his box for a fly
When a pattern compelling attracted his eye.
"The pink harlot!" he muttered and grinned ear to ear
"Far better to give than receive, so I hear."
So he cast once again and his magic was true,
And the trout it looked up and knew not what to do.
"This fly has a body of beads don't you know,
And if that's not enough there's a shining pink nose!
I know it's fraud and I know it's a fake,
But I can't help myself. It's a gift I must take!"
So he rose in swirl and captured that thing,
Flew off down the stream. Santa's reel it did sing.
"Ho!" shouted Santa, "You're making my day.
If the heavens were water, you'd be pulling my sleigh."
So, Santa prevailed and released his great rival
First taking great care to ensure its survival.
He then mounted his sled and he flew out of sight
Shouting, "Merry Christmas" to all and to all a good night!"