The Night before -- Feliz Navidad -

'Twas the night before Christmas

and all through the casa,

Not a creature ws stirring

- Caramba! Que pasa?

Los ninos were tucked away
in their camas,
Some in long underwear,
some in pyjamas,

While hanging the stockings

with mucho cuidado

In hopes that old Santa

would feel obligado

To bring all children,

both buenos and malos,

A nice batch of dulces

and other regalos.

Outside in the yard

there arose such a grito

That I jumped to my feet

like a fightened cabrito.

I ran to the window

and looked out afuera,

And who in the world

do you think that it era?

Saint Nick in a sleigh

and a big red sombrero

Came dashing along

like a crazy bombero.

And pulling his sleigh

instead of venados

Were eight little burros

approaching volados.

I watched as they came

and this quaint little hombre

Was shouting and whistling

and calling by nombre:

"Ay Pancho, ay Pepe,

ay Cuco, ay Berto,

Ay Chato, ay Chopo,

Macuco, y Nieto!"

Then standing erect

with his hands on his pecho

He flew to the top

of our very own techo.

With his round little belly

like a bowl of jalea,

He struggled to squeeze

down our old chiminea,

Then huffing and puffing

at last in our sala,

With soot smeared

all over his red suit de gala,

He filled all the stockings

with lovely regalos --

For none of the ninos

had been very malos.

Then chuckling aloud,

seeming very contento,

He turned like a flash

and was gone like the viento.

And I heard him exclaim,

and this is verdad,

Merry Christmas to all,

and Feliz Navidad!