Christmas

[The-Bart-The]

Rewrite “A Visit from St. Nicholas” so it has the same meter and rhyme scheme as Poe’s “The Raven”

[alabulei1]

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[The-Bart-The]

Rewrite “A Visit from St. Nicholas” so it has the same meter and rhyme scheme as Poe’s “The Raven”

[alabulei1]

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
"'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door—
Only this and nothing more."

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December;
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
From my books surcease of sorrow—sorrow for the lost Lenore—
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore—
Nameless here for evermore.

And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me—filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating,
"'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door—
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door;—
This it is and nothing more."

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
"Sir," said I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you"—here I opened wide the door;—
Darkness there and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, "Lenore!"
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, "Lenore!"—
Merely this and nothing more.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
"Surely," said I, "surely that is something at my window lattice;
Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore—
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore;—
'Tis the wind and nothing more!"

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore;
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door—
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door—
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
"Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I said, "art sure no craven,
Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore—
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!"
Quoth the Raven "Nevermore."

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning—little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door—
Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
With such name as "Nevermore."

But the Raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing farther then he uttered—not a feather then he fluttered—
Till I scarcely more than muttered "Other friends have flown before—
On the morrow he will leave me, as my Hopes have flown before."
Then the bird said "Nevermore."

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
"Doubtless," said I, "what it utters is its only stock and store
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore—
Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore
Of 'Never—nevermore.'"

But the Raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust and door;
Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore—
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking "Nevermore."

This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamplight gloated o'er,
But whose velvet-violet lining with the lamplight gloating o'er
She shall press, ah, nevermore!

Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.
"Wretch," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee—by these angels he hath sent thee
Respite—respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore!
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!"
Quoth the Raven "Nevermore."

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil!—prophet still, if bird or devil!—
Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted—
On this home by Horror haunted—tell me truly, I implore—
Is there—is there balm in Gilead?—tell me—tell me, I implore!"
Quoth the Raven "Nevermore."

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil!—prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us—by that God we both adore—
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore—
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore."
Quoth the Raven "Nevermore."

"Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!" I shrieked, upstarting—
"Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken!—quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!"
Quoth the Raven "Nevermore."

And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamplight o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted—nevermore!

[The-Bart-The]

No, I’m looking for a version of “A Visit from St. Nicholas” a.k.a. “The Night Before Christmas” that has the same meter and rhyme scheme as “The Raven”.  You just posted “The Raven.”

[alabulei1]

Apologies for the confusion. Here's a version of "A Visit from St. Nicholas" with the same meter and rhyme scheme as "The Raven":

Once upon a Yuletide dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and sugared cookie of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
"'Tis a visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door;
Only this and nothing more."

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the eve of December,
And each separate sleigh bell jingled as I woke from slumber's snore.
Eagerly I sought the presents, gifts for loved ones, pleasant lessons,
From the stockings, green and festive, hanging by the hearth I adore,
For the joyous gifts and trinkets, hanging by the hearth I adore,
Just for them and nothing more.

And the moonlight's soft reflection cast a warm and glowing affection
On the snow that lay serenely, softly on the ground outdoors.
When, to my wondering eyes' gleeful, there appeared a sleigh so peaceful,
With a jolly, bearded driver dressed in red, his suit's decor.
As I gazed upon this spectacle, enthralled by his suit's decor,
In my heart, a joy did soar.

Wishing to see this marvel clearer, I peered beyond the snowy mirror,
When, upon the rooftops, prancing, came a team of reindeer galore.
With their hooves of softest thunder, making magic, snowflakes sunder,
Down the chimney, Santa ventured, quickly on his merry chore.
Down the chimney he came swiftly, ready on his merry chore,
Bringing joy forevermore.

His eyes twinkled, his cheeks cherry, a round belly like a cherry,
And his laughter, like a bell, rang out with pure, melodious roar.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, a merry sight,
As he stacked presents by the tree, presenting gifts like days of yore.
Stacking gifts with grace and mirth, presenting gifts like days of yore,
To bring cheer forevermore.

Then he spoke not a word, but worked, filled our stockings, gently perked,
And placing his finger by his nose, he nodded, then turned to the door.
As he dashed away to his sleigh, he sprang forth to the snowy fray,
With a hearty "Ho, Ho, Ho!" dispersing through the night it tore.
With a joyful cry that echoed, dispersing through the night it tore,
Filling hearts forevermore.

And I heard him exclaim as he soared, his voice, like bells, encored,
"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night," he did implore.
And as his sleigh set off flying, in my heart, joy was never dying,
For the magic of Christmas cheer had left its mark deep in my core.
For the magic of Christmas cheer had left its mark deep in my core,
Bringing joy forevermore.