On Christmas Eve the sky was clear
For Santa and for his reindeer.
They live, of course, at the North Pole
And when, sometimes, the deer do stroll
They found that global warming made
The ice beneath like marmalade,
But they were learning how to cope
And Santa told them they must hope
That folk in warmer climes would see
That fossil fuels just mustn’t be.

He sighed and said that yes, indeed,
Good substitutes were a great need,
But since, of course, ’twas Christmas Eve
They’d best not fret — ’twas time to leave
To give the gifts that Santa had
For every lass and every lad
Who lived in warmer climes than theirs,
But then he thought of polar bears
And how the ice that in past times
Has been their home when colder climes.
Were many places now turned warm
And causing polar bears great harm.

“Let’s not forget that those below
Should certainly be in the know
About warm days and little snow,”
He said as he climbed in his sleigh
And told the deer “Away, away.”
Of course, with Covid in the air
It was, indeed, tres necessaire
That masks be worn by all on land.
St. Nick looked down and saw below
Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard isle,
And it, of course, brought a big smile
To Santa Claus and the deer, too,
For the Flying Horses came in view.

Of course in winter they’re at rest,
But Santa knew they were the best
Of Flying Horses in the land —
They really are so very grand,
He wished, indeed, they could have a peek
At the charming horses so antique.
That couldn’t be, but nonetheless
The deer were ready for a rest.

So Nick proposed that the sleigh put down
On Circuit avenue of renown
Since the Flying Horses are nearby,
But Circuit avenue — my, oh my,
Had a strange new look — its trees were gone
It looked, alas, quite woebegone
As if it needed some good cheer.
And so St. Nick said to his deer
That they should try to parallel park
Which should, for them, have been a lark,
But it wasn’t at all, so St. Nick said,
That Ocean Park would do instead.

There lights were bright — pink, blue and green —
The prettiest lights the deer had seen.
As they’d circled the Vineyard where St. Nick
Had gifts for those from each bailiwick.
Once the deer had landed, from all about
Islanders gathered (masks on snouts)
To see what Santa had brought to give
Whether Salt Rock chocolates or a sieve.
For Michael Lipinsky there was teak wood
He always works with wood that’s good.
Cathy Hodge-Chu got fine wood, too,
For Habitat housing, and a horse blue
Was for Zinnia Turner who’s just two
And loves to play with anything new.

Then Mike Donaroma got orchids rare
To make his customers gulp and stare.
For Steve Bernier was a watch of gold
Since he’s retiring though he isn’t old.
Kurt Schuller got winning lottery tickets
And Cathlin Baker unbreakable pickets
For West Tisbury’s church that stands so tall
While for Paddy Moore was an alpaca shawl
For Dick Fligor there was old-time ink
For poetry writing, and a blouse of pink
For Charlotte Goeckel, no longer six,
While Anne Osmundsen got lobster bisque.

For Louise Besire and for Ann Burt
Were lobster rolls and a rich dessert.
For Caleb Enos’s trips to Chappy
Were rain boots that will keep him happy
On stormy nights of wind and rain
That really can be quite a pain.
Brad Woodger got an electric mower.
He likes birds singing when he’s in the shower
But also when he’s on Chappy’s links.
He’s especially fond of the bobolinks.

And then so she could see the sights —
Florence and Venice on moonlit nights —
A ticket to Italy in a safe time
Christina Park found just sublime.
While for Charles Young, Santa had lime
For the gin and tonics Chip makes so well
For summer parties on hill, in dell.
Then Bob Tolay got new running shoes
To make quite sure he will not lose
His running skills in high school track
But that’s unlikely since he has the knack
For running well. St. Nick knew that
He was not too thin nor was he fat.

For Deb Packer there were flashy lights
For her new jeep, while boards for kites
Were in Santa’s sack for Kevin Morris.
For Richard Knabel, born under Taurus
Were bulbs for his garden, to bring him cheer;
For Becky Sanders there was rain gear
When she goes to feed Sunday on rainy nights.
Then for the Gatchells were a few more lights
To add to the ones that already gleam
On County Road, and for the team
Of horses Fred Fisher drives about
Since they certainly don’t like sauerkraut
Was hay with alfalfa to make it sweet
It was indeed a perfect treat.

Then Rose Willett got a brand new truck
And Bob O’Rourke to bring him luck
Got a new paddle for his tennis game
Without his playing ’twould not be the same.
Then daffy bulbs for all to view
When they bloom in spring were in Santa’s pack
Way deep at the bottom of his big sack
For Joanie Jenkinson and for Pat.
Then Ricci Tucker got puppy toys
That squeak and growl and make other noise
While for Barbara Baskin and Breckinridge, John
Were Salt Rock chocolates — quickly gone.
There were more of the same for Aliya Browne
Of MV Hospital renown.

And then Claire Ganz got cross country skis
So in winter snows she can with ease
Get home to serve pickles to her dad, Bob,
He likes Brussels sprout pickles and corn on the cob.
For Jimmy Athearn was more corn than ever
To grow on his farm, he is so clever.
’Twill please the visitors come to enjoy
Not just the flowers that bloom at Mytoi
But the fruits and vegetables that Jim sells.
At Morning Glory Farm — even chanterelles.

Then for Jen Freeman there were headphones
And for Dick Burt were historic bones
Brought from the Pole on Santa’s sleigh —
A souvenir from far away.
Then Martha Moore got a Great Dane —
Her neat little house won’t be the same
Then there was a scooter for Ferry, Dale
To get to his work in rain, snow or gale.
For Melissa Wood was a brand new car
To get her near and to get her far.
Anne Vanderhoop got a red rose bouquet.
That surely will brighten her Christmas Day.

For Lenny Jason there were cards of good wishes,
While Margaret Maida got Christmas dishes
And a Santa Claus to sit on her roof
(An inflatable one, a bit of a goof).
There were aviation glasses for Tobin, Matt
And for Capt. Mike Mazza a welcome mat
While Rebecca Shanor for her cat, Pilot
A traveling case embroidered with eyelet.
Then for Chris Scott were warm gloves for biking;
For Alexis Moreis were boots for hiking.

For Erik Blake was a Peleton
While for Tom Thatcher there were bonbons.
Santa climbed to the bandstand so he could see all
The Islanders gathered ’twas like at a mall
But all had donned face masks as all people should;
For the health of the Island that was very good.
The reindeer were munching what grass was still green
And, in the distance, the sea could be seen
For a moon in the sky was yellow and bright.
St. Nick said to himself what a beautiful sight.

Up a way, he remembered from long ago trips
He’d been able to see, in the distance, tall ships
From the bluffs that had given their name to the town
They’d stood white and handsome and been of renown.
But the sea had gone lapping and little was left.
Indeed, he thought sadly, ’twas now quite bereft;
Where once there’d been bluffs, there was nothing at all
They’d tried rip-rap and rocks — they’d thought of a wall
But he’d heard that the town was now hoping to get
The funds to restore them — and not be in debt.

Like the White Cliffs of Dover across the wide sea
Perhaps, at Oak Bluffs, there would once again be
Bluffs standing for sailors to see from afar;
Bluffs sturdy enough so that in a car
One could drive and look out at the moon in the sky.
Oak Bluffs’s bluffs might be back again by and by!
But he had to stop dreaming and dig in his sack,
There were still gifts galore he had managed to pack.

For Tony daRosa was a new printing press;
For Skyler Wallcox was a pretty dress.
Then Arnika Madison got a gay scarf
And Angela Aroni a puppy named Arf.
Bob Wasserman got a bright night light
So he will never be out of sight
As he charges along on Music street
Almost as if in a race dead-heat.

For Bobby Brown was a walk-in freezer
To store his venison to eat at leisure.
For Lynn Irwin there was a lei
To keep her reminded of Hawaii
Until she can travel there again.
And Cynthia Riggs got a Buffington hen.
Branimira Milkova got free ferry fare
So she’ll no longer pay daily to go from there to here —
From Woods Hole to the Vineyard’s a long daily trip.
And the ferry sometimes goes at a slow clip.

Then Deborah MacInnis got a dragon that roars
While for Rory Goeckel was one that soars.
And Calum Hart got a rattle to shake
When he’s a bit bigger and stays awake.
For Mary Beth Keenan were shoes that don’t slip
When she goes down stairs at a very fast clip.
Then Lisa Sherman got a Merlot wine,
One that is really very fine.

Pam Goff got a G-string for her guitar
And then of course, there were for Johnson, Omar
Of West Tisbury’s Health Board, elegant masks
To don as he goes on his daily tasks
Of keeping the virus far out of town.
While for Ann Bassett was an eider down
To keep her warm on wintry days
If she lies down on her living room chaise
Then Virginia Munro got a brand new rake
And for Carmine Cerone who likes to bake
Was chocolate aplenty for a devil’s food cake
Then Lucia Dillon got ballet shoes.

And there were tickets for a Viking cruise
For Clarissa Allen and Posin, Mitch
When it’s safe to travel without a hitch.
Santa found in his sack more tickets, too,
Tickets aplenty — quite a few
For Garrett Orazem to go on a train
To see his grandchildren once again
In New York city; while for Tombers, Matt
Was a Barbados ticket and that was that.

For Huck and Homer, kittens new
There were treats to chew on — quite a few
At the Kennedy house on Lambert’s Cove.
(The kittens like munching by the kitchen stove).
For Jim Norton were tents for his tomatoes
And Marjorie Peirce got pounds of potatoes
To cook for the guests on overnight stays
In Island churches on wintry days.
Isidra Kirschbaum got booties warm
While Christian Waters for Slough Farm
Got seeds for squash and seeds for beans
And other seeds a farmer needs.

And then there were new cello strings
(Santa always brings all kinds of things)
For Calvin, Malcolm and June Patti.
For Peter Nessen who’s always natty
There were bow ties, and others, too,
For Feldman, Sam; for Cullen, Blue
Were sacks of flour for the cakes she bakes.
And for Laura Silber for dishes she makes.
(They’re all sorts of dishes, not just cakes.)
For Belinda Booker was a new stethoscope
And Kylee-Darcy got a coloring book
As well as a doll with a lovely look.

While for Natalie Francis was a bouquet of holly
That on Christmas Day should make her jolly.
Dr. Lorna Andrade got a fountain pen
And Heidi Feldman got a hen.
Cully Vanderhoop got slipper socks
For Steffie Michalczyk was some phlox.
Then Yago Moraes got a cuddly puppy.
While Mary Jane Pease got a puppy-luppy
John Larsen got lobster pots that self-stack.
For Colin Hurd there was a back pack
While Tommeye Brown got a yoga mat.

And Mary Pat Hough another cat.
For the Tim Guineys was a private jet
A comfortable one they won’t forget
To get them all across the land
To see family members on West Coast sand
And Everett Poole got a new hat.
Then Edie Blake got parrot food
To keep her Gonzo in a good mood.
By then Santa’s deer were all ready to go
Back to the Pole where they hoped to find snow.

En route they knew if they looked down below
They’d see smokestacks puffing; smell gas in the air
They were glad there’d been respite on this Island fair.
Santa hoped it would stay so for many long years.
But he kept to himself that he had any fears.
As he looked down below at the Gay Head Light
And the cliffs of Aquinnah — a memorable sight.
And to all down below, in the darkening light
He wished Merry Christmas and a very Good Night!