Unknown2005-12-17 05:42:54
Twas the night before Estar, when all through the manse
Not a creature was stirring, not even a fink.
The stockings were hung by the nexus with care,
In hopes that Estarra soon would be there.
The novices were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of blademasters danced in their heads.
And Joli in her ‘kerchief, and I in my helm,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.
When out in the city there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I spored like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
Mother moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny bellators.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be Estarra.
More rapid than eagles her coursers they came,
And she whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
"Now Narsrim! now, Daevos! now, Amaru and Tuek!
On, Ixion! On, Murphy! on, Lyco and Geb!
To the top of the Necropolis! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the city-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of artifacts, and Estarra too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little boot.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the nexus Estarra came with a bound.
She was dressed all in ewe, from her head to her foot,
And her clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of artifacts she had flung on his back,
And she looked like a peddler, just opening her pack.
Her eyes-how they twinkled! her dimples how merry!
Her cheeks were like roses, her nose like a cherry!
Her droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of her chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe she held tight in her teeth,
And the faeleaf smoke it encircled her head like a wreath.
She had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when she laughed, like a bowlful of Lobstrosity jelly!
She was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elfen,
And I laughed when I saw her, in spite of myself!
A wink of her eye and a twist of her head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
She spoke not a word, but went straight to her work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying her finger aside of her nose,
And giving a nod, up the nexus she rose!
She sprang to her sleigh, to her team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard her exclaim, ‘ere she drove out of sight,
"Happy Estar to all, and to all a good-night!"
Not a creature was stirring, not even a fink.
The stockings were hung by the nexus with care,
In hopes that Estarra soon would be there.
The novices were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of blademasters danced in their heads.
And Joli in her ‘kerchief, and I in my helm,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.
When out in the city there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I spored like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
Mother moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny bellators.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be Estarra.
More rapid than eagles her coursers they came,
And she whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
"Now Narsrim! now, Daevos! now, Amaru and Tuek!
On, Ixion! On, Murphy! on, Lyco and Geb!
To the top of the Necropolis! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the city-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of artifacts, and Estarra too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little boot.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the nexus Estarra came with a bound.
She was dressed all in ewe, from her head to her foot,
And her clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of artifacts she had flung on his back,
And she looked like a peddler, just opening her pack.
Her eyes-how they twinkled! her dimples how merry!
Her cheeks were like roses, her nose like a cherry!
Her droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of her chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe she held tight in her teeth,
And the faeleaf smoke it encircled her head like a wreath.
She had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when she laughed, like a bowlful of Lobstrosity jelly!
She was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elfen,
And I laughed when I saw her, in spite of myself!
A wink of her eye and a twist of her head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
She spoke not a word, but went straight to her work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying her finger aside of her nose,
And giving a nod, up the nexus she rose!
She sprang to her sleigh, to her team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard her exclaim, ‘ere she drove out of sight,
"Happy Estar to all, and to all a good-night!"
Shiri2005-12-17 05:46:15
That's kind of cute. I can just see Narsrim and Tuek as reindeers for some reason. 
Joli2005-12-17 05:49:06
Aw, it's cute. 
Richter2005-12-17 05:52:38
I give it a six, I know Guido can do better.
Shamarah2005-12-17 21:42:23
That's good! You should have made the changed lines rhyme though, the altering of the rhyme scheme in places kinda threw me off.
Marcalo2005-12-20 05:37:43
thats pretty nifty guido
