'Twas the flight before Christmas and all through the hub
Woman Road Warriors with laptops had gone to the club.
The shoes and the purses were stacked in the bins.
Experienced flyers stripped down to their skins.
The passengers were crowded all snug in their seats
with visions of coffee, maybe Starbucks or Peet's.
And my seatmate with ear buds and I in my wrap,
had just settled our brains for an all-flight long nap.
The lights dimmed and all power came to a stop.
The hubbub had ceased, you could hear a pin drop.
The luggage was heaped and sat dead on the belt.
Long faces, short tempers, you could see how they felt.
Emergency lighting reflected the glare
of ice on the wings of planes going nowhere.
The crowds were on edge, gate attendants on guard,
this was not their idea of a quaint Christmas card.
We'll be trapped at this airport and miss our connection,
no Christmas surprises, no Kwanzaa confection.
When out on the runway there arose such a clatter,
I leaned to the window to see what-now was the matter?
And what to my wondering eyes should appear
but a turbo-charged sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.
The driver was short with a round little belly;
he was just like the Santa you see on the telly.
He stroked his beard twice and his eyes caught the light.
I knew in my heart things would soon be all right.
Santa scoped out the problem and said not a word
and that's when the miracle began to occur.
The reindeer that recently had been to-ers and fro-ers
transformed themselves into super snow-blowers.
On Dasher, on Prancer, on Dancer and Vixen
then Donner and Blitzen decided to mix in.
Comet and Cupid both made the snow fly.
By the time it was settled the runway was dry.
The force of their effort created such heat
that the ice from the wings melted off at their feet.
Snow and ice was dispatched with a speed that was frightening
and the power restored in a flash much like lightning.
The TSA staffers had burst into song.
Those security lines were now whizzing along!
The air was alive with holiday cheer
on account of the man and his first class reindeer.
Ah Santa, I thought, I knew you could do it.
Once again, you've provided true Christmas spirit.
And I heard him exclaim as he flew out of sight
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good flight!
May the Holiday Spirit Give you Wings
and Compassion for your Fellow Travelers.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS & A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!
*Special thanks to airport reporter Deborah Williams
