Twas the Night 2023

'Twas the night before Christmas, I'm here in Aruba
Composing this verse so as to include ya

On this One Happy Island, I came with hopes to explore
To see what I can see and hopefully much more

Take today for example, this Christmas eve's day
I read my book in a hammock, strung next to the bay

I ate arepas for breakfast, for lunch a coconut smoothie
Aruba's quite pricy which makes me feel kind of bougie

I took a long walk, no actually 'twas two
The first one for function, the second just something to do

I walked down the beach, as the sun set 'neath the sea
I saw sandman upon sandman which filled me with glee

I went geocaching, I went for a swim
After I finish this poem, I hop in the pool again

I'm only here for a minute, just a minor side quest
Since this'll be my only post, I better cover the rest

Yesterday I hoofed it to a vast aloe farm
With an attached cute museum filled with history and charm

I took my requisite jump pic, but the lighting didn't agree
That's okay though cause Aruba's just a tier three

But what I've enjoyed most is simply the relaxing
Though not like life at home is really all that taxing

I'm making time for book reading and 2 milkshakes a day
I'm keeping a trip journal which helps keep loneliness at bay

So instead of recounting the whole trip right here
Go read it there so I can get back to the holiday cheer

For that's what this post's for, to wish you all of the best
And because I can't not do it (as you already guessed)

So with sand 'tween my toes and sweat dripping down my drawers
I wish Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours

(Sorry for that last line, the sweaty drawers part
But the best wishes I mean with all of my heart)

Sunday December 24 2023File under: holidays, poetry

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Twas the Night 2022

'Tis the night before Christmas and lay down to rest
I've earned a good sleep from my day in Budapest.

I'm spending the week on a Danube boat cruise
We're seeing the sights and getting great views.

We launched in Vienna then headed downstream
The mist and the fog make it feel like a dream.

Hungary's currently our home, docked right in downtown
My main activity has been walking around.

Yesterday I walked for miles upon miles
At the end of the day, the castle brought me most smiles

But today I set goals, for this Christmas eve's day
So I set out early (after the breakfast buffet)

First stop was some disc golf, the course meh or not even
But I sank some good putts and then I was leaving

Next was a park full of communist statues
I took selfie upon selfie to keep me amused

The day'd been quite fun, exploring places brand new
But I had a more somber goal that I wanted to do

Della and I were here, back in twenty sixteen
And I wanted to visit some of the places we'd been

Della's still so deep within me, esp on days like today
I try to find ways to feel closer whenever there's a way

Then after the day I had had, I needed a break
So it was back to the ship for tea and some cake

The shipboard dinner was quite the affair
I had duck, soup, and as much dessert as I dared

The group that I eat with, we all came on our own
We have much fun together, better than being all alone

After dinner I head back for just one more wander
A evening in Budapest isn't something to squander

But my feet have informed me 12 miles is enough
So I head back to the boat to take care of some stuff

Writing this poem is a task and a half
I'll share 'bout my day and try to give you a laugh

This yearly tradition is routine that I need
So you're doing me a favor by giving it a read

Now I'll wind down this rhyme like I always do
By sending Christmas wishes to all of you

May your holidays be full of all you desire
Like hopefully you got that hippest air fryer

Merry Christmas, dear friends, I say with all of my might
And a Happy New Year to you and to all a good night
Saturday December 24 2022File under: holidays, poetry

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Twas the Night 2021

Twas the night before Christmas and homemade music filled the air
The words were in Spanish, but I didn't care.

Tambourines were shaking, people were clapping
Elena had a textured bottle on which she was tapping

These people who are singing I just met today
They are in-laws of Horge, a friend from back in the day

They've invited me in to share in their big feast
There was shrimp, ham, and cheese, 8 types at least

I needed the nourishment, cause the day'd been a long trial
My flight back from Africa to Spain had been delayed quite a while

A day spent stranded in airports left me tired and beat
But I perked right up when I saw the plates of meat

A toddler runs rampant, the house is full of great spirit
The impromptu singing's so loud I'm sure the neighbors hear it

The joy in this family is so plainly clear
It's the perfect expression at this time of year

And I find myself thinking, about Della of course
And that familial joy of which she was the source

I won't lay it all out, all my thoughts good and blue
If you want that kind of stuff, check out last year's haiku

So now I lay myself down for some much needed rest
In a guest room far away feeling both sadness and blessed

The sadness, that's clear, I'm sure it'll always be there
The blessing are this evening that I was lucky to share

I hope your blessings feel bigger and you have no cause for sorrow
So you can fully enjoy the big holiday tomorrow

So as I drift off to sleep, here on the Spanish coast
I wish a Happy New Year to all and Merry Christmas to most
Saturday December 25 2021File under: holidays, poetry

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Twas the Night Before Christmas 2019



Twas the night before Christmas
With the air thick and moist
The jungle all around us
Sings with its enchanting voice

The chirps of the bugs
The calls of the birds
The howls of the monkeys
Form these foreign words

Four kinds of primates
Or was it five?
That we saw today
On our boat ride

Macaques and proboscis
A few I forget
But watching the orangutans
Was really the hit

So human-like and graceful
They swing tree to tree
The babies and their mamas
Were the most fun to see

Now we're anchored in the magroves
With the jungle close at hand
Three nights on this houseboat
Is our Christmas plan

We'll look for more monkeys
See what Borneo has to share
We'll night hike to tarantualas
If we might dare

It's a different Chrsitmas
Than at home it is true
We trade cold for hot weather
A ham for fish stew

But even without trimmings
Carols, gifts, and bells
We have each other
And time to oursevles

For us, that's just right
Plus it gives me a reason
To write my "Night Before" poem
To chronicle our season

Now the candle's burning low
And tomorrow's an early start
So I'll pass along this wish
From the bottom of my heart

May your Christmas be
As joyous as mine is
Full of love, fun, and smiles
And perhaps some bad rhyme-es

These "Night Before Christmas" posts have become some of my favorite over the years. If you're interested, check back to poems of the past via the archive.

Monday December 30 2019File under: holidays, poetry

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Twas the Night Before Christmas 2018

Twas the night before Christmas
At the house on the lake
It's gone from raucous to quiet
Now I'm barely awake

It's been a full day
Filled with of all sorts of good
Good food and good people
Just like a holiday should

We played in the pool
We pet the horse and the goat
We ate grilled oysters with butter
But I don't try to gloat

Homemade duck pate
Smoked salmon that Sam caught
Dates stuffed with cream cheese
And a spaghetti filled pot

It felt like a whirlwind
But of the best kind
Now that everyone's gone
We begin to unwind

It's just me and Della
For where now we call home
Next month we'll be elsewhere
As we tend to roam

It's a big part of our life
Bouncing from place to place
Different housesitting and travel
Rarely in our home base

This year is a rarity
That we're here and not there
So we were happy to host
This Christmas affair

Next year who can say
Where I'll be writing this post
Maybe an island in Thailand
Or in a van on the coast

But next year is next year
And this ode's about now
But since it's getting quite long
I think it's time to say ciao

Thanks for reading my rhyme
(The tenth that I've done!?!)
I hope that your Christmas is merry
Full of food, folks, and fun

My last words for the night
Before I click send
Is Merry Christmas to you all
My family and friends
Tuesday December 25 2018File under: holidays, poetry

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Twas the Night Before Christmas 2017

Twas the night before Christmas
Reggae beats drift on by
So it goes in Jamaica
For my sweetie and I

We've come down to visit
This Caribbean island nation
For escape and adventure
To have a nice little vacation

And so far, it's worked!
A week in and we're thrilled
We done a few things
But mostly we've chilled

Last night was Grand Market
A sight to behold
We found our way to the right town
Or so we were told

Music was blaring
Up and down every street
With stands of all kinds
Especially jerk meat

The place was packed full
Of revelers and glee
Della and I were the only
White faces to see

But that makes it authentic
Not what most tourists get
Following our noses
Hasn't failed us yet

With the reggae still ringing
through us to the core
We spent X-mas eve day
Exploring some more

After fresh smoothies of star fruit
Picked right from the tree
We cram ourselves in a mini-bus
Which flies at speeds unsafely

We arrive at a place where
the sea meets a cascade
I proceed to re-enact
A blog post from last decade

Next we walked into Ocho Rios
A little too touristy for us
After a quick dinner and crunkies
We were back on a bus

Now we're settled at "home"
A quaint little AirBnB
Outside the reggae drifts by
Inside its just Della and me

We won't do anything special
Maybe watch a movie or read
But we'll be totally at peace
Because we have all we need

Adventure, warm weather
Time to ourselves
Santa couldn't make us happier
With all of his elves

Now I sit back and reread
My Twas posts from the past
I get quite a kick
From the pile that's amassed ('07, '08, '09, '11, '12, '13, '14, '15)

For while I'm kind of a grinch
About most yule themed things
These silly little poems
Much joy to me brings

I hope you have a your own reasons
For joy this fine night
May the upcoming year
Bring you much love and delight

Now I'll end it right here
With this last seasonal cliche
Merry Christmas to you
On this joyous day
Sunday December 24 2017File under: holidays, poetry

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Twas the Night Before Christmas 2015

Tis the night before Christmas
And here in Dubai
We're taking it all in
My Della and I

We saw Burj Kalifa
Tallest building man made
We watch the grand fountains
And strolled the promenade

At the Burj Al Arab
Down on the sea shore
We jumped and we jumped
And got the pic I came for

This town seems to teem
With malls big and small
We visited a half dozen
But that's hardly them all

Paris has the Seine
And Vegas's nightlife is hopping
But as fars I can tell
Dubai's known for shopping

The places were packed
You couldn't swing a dead cat
Acre upon acre of
Things to look at

We peered at the sweets shop
Where they made candy by hand
We watch sharks in huge tanks
And we browsed luxury brands

At one mall we saw
The biggest afront made by man
A ski slope in the desert
Just 'cause they can

This town's an enigma
Nothing else like it on earth
I'm glad to be seeing it
Whatever that's worth

But tomorrow we move on,
Flying out Christmas Day
On our way to Luxor Egypt
We might pass Santa's sleigh

Tonight I'll hang up
My socks with great care
Not to be filled with gifts
But 'cause they need the air

I'll lay down my head
Upon the mattress on the floor*
And be thankful I have
All I could ever wish for

An adventuresome Christmas
Is best gift I could get
Some time with my sweetie
That I'll never forget

But now I must go
And close out this verse
Lest my words become boring
And rhymes become worse

So I'll just end it the way
That I always do
With all of my heart
I wish Merry Christmas to you

(If you're jonesing for more
Of my silly yule tradition
Go on and click through
To the previous editions
'07, '08, '09, '11, '12, '13, '14)

Thursday December 24 2015File under: holidays, poetry

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Roses Are Red Poetry Slam No. 9

It's that time again—to reluctantly and hastily dash off a few Roses are Red poems for that special someone. Well, that special someone for me is you, dear reader. So here are a few hastily dashed off poems to celebrate year number 9(!) of the Blog du Wren Roses Are Red poetry slam. Please leave your contributions in the comments below. Or, if you're not feeling the poetry bug, have a read back at the previous years ('14', '13, '12, '11, '10, '09, '08, '07)




It's late in the game
To beg your contribution
But the Roses are Red blog post
Is a BdW institution

Roses are red
With a hint of green
You've stolen my heart
And also my spleen

Twelve words about roses
Not a bouquet
My gift to you
OK?*



The day before Rose Day
Is a Friday quite ominous
Another scary thought?
My love for you is bottomess

Roses are pokey
Like your fresh trimmed moustache
And them kisses from you
Are so worth the rash

Roses embed
A love tasty and true
And our love runs sweet
Like milk chocolate fondue

Friday February 13 2015File under: poetry, holidays

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8th Roses Are Red Off

Hey, I've got an idea. Let's write Roses are Red poems right here on the blog. It'll be great. I'll write a few to get you started. Then you can contribute your own. Over the next week or so, you can check back to read the awesome ones other people write. How about we set the rules as every poem much contain either the word "roses" or "red" and must follow the standard Roses are Red rhyming/stress pattern.

Full disclosure: this is not a new idea. It's been done many times, some of which were right here on this blog! Check out posts from '13, '12, '11, '10, '09, '08, '07
Roses are red
And contain a bug or two
When we eavesdrop dear Angela*
We feel closer to you
Rosas son rojas
Mi chiquita bañana
Besa me esta noche
Don't wait for mañana
You shouldn't buy roses
If you really cared
Buy local instead
And our earth with be spared1
Roses are red
But such a frivolity
And I thought you believed
In gender equality
Here, take your roses
Now I've done my duty
Is that sufficient
For you to show me your booty?


Wednesday February 12 2014File under: poetry, holidays

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7th(!) Annual Roses Are Red Breakout

This year's entreaty for Roses are red poems is coming a little late. That means you better get your submission in pronto! And remember, the more entries the more fun! (Rules as always: gotta use either "Rose" or "red" in the poem and it must follow the standard Roses are red rhyming/stress scheme.) Happy composing!


oses are red
that much is true
but there isn't a flower
that can hold a candle to you


'll make you a rose
In your choice of hues
If you don't care
What chemicals I use



or 7 years now
I've rapped about roses
How many more years
Til this tradition decomposes






Wednesday February 13 2013File under: poetry, holidays

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