A Yuletide Carol

It ‘twas Yuletide Eve, and in his parlor by the fire,

Sat Merry Brandybuck, in his hole, in the Shire.

He sat contentedly, his pipe he was smoking,

Making rings in the air in which he was blowing,

He sipped some strong Brandy, as was his wont

It warmed his curls to his toes, as it slid down his throat.

The windows were passed by slow falling snow

Tumbling and twirling, the flakes fell below

The fire was crackling, the candles were lit

A perfect wintery scene, the picture did fit

Dusk was near, and so the sky darkened

The twinkling stars, the bright moon did harken

The trees were all laden with bundles of white

Reflecting the silver beams shined down that night

Crisp was the air, on the window was ice

But inside, Merry stayed cozy and nice

His pipe all out-smoked, and his eyelids heavy,

Closed them slowly, he did, that Merry.

Just entering slumber’s door, he awoke with a start

And upon hearing a crash -- pounded his heart

He did not move, and was fearful a second

Then regained his senses, it was Pippin, he reckoned

If there was clamor in the kitchen, who else could it be?

Maybe Berry, or Sam, but he doubted all three.

And so he groaned, as from his chair he did rise

Leaving the warmth of the cushions aside

And grumbled as he walked on towards the room

Whoever was there, was sure to be doomed

‘Pip!’ He hollered, ‘If that is you,’

‘I more than certainly will have a word or two!’

So he walked through the halls of Crickhollow at night,

Carrying a candle as his source of light

And when he arrived he stopped abruptly

At what he found in his kitchen cubby

It ‘twas old Father Yule in his bells, alright!

And the young Brandybuck nearly choked at the sight

But he was far too sensible, this Merry, he

And did not believe what his eyes surely did see

‘Hoi, there!’ he called, in his best brawny sound

To the jolly old elf in red suit on the ground

‘Who are you, and was ‘tis your name?

You can’t go about breaking in like a game!’

The joyful man adorned in fur rose from the ground

And when he spoke, like bells was the sound

‘Merry-lad Brandybuck, is that you, young chap?

By Havens! you’ve grown to be 4 foot and a half!’

He laughed then, so hearty, that his belly did jiggle

His head thrown back, his red nose did wiggle

His was like the spirit of Yuletide condensed, in a man, fit

Smelling of evergreens, chocolate and mint

His beard was the white of new-fallen snow

His garments of crimson seemed all a-glow

His eyes all a-twinkle, his dimples so gay

He looked then to Merry, and then he did say,

‘Now look at this! I am in such a rut!

There are no children here, I must have forgot!’

And as much as he could not believe himself sane,

Merry believed it ‘twas Father Yule when he knew Merry’s name

And before the old man could make to go,

Merry stopped him and said under his joyous gaze so:

‘Wait! Father Yule! I do think myself mad,

But if it is you truly, I know I’m quite glad,

Don’t make to leave so quickly, not now

For I’ve a favor to ask,' He said with a bow

Father Yule stood then with his hands on his hips

And a thoughtful pucker slid onto his lips

‘I’ve not much time,’ he said in thought

‘But for you lad, I would deny not,’

‘For I’ve heard of you and your kin’s great deeds,

And would offer everything in thanks at your need,’

So with that Father Yule replied,

Joy and pride shining in his deep lively eyes

To see finally some good in this world, which was in the past, dim

In the form of the hobbit that stood before him

‘Thank you, sir,’ said Merry, eyes all a-light

‘The favor I’ve to ask of you tonight,

Has to do with my little tyke, gather,

The babe’s not yet born, still in her mum, rather,’

Merry shifted position to point where his chamber was kept

To indicate in which place his wife, Estella, still slept.

‘I was wondering, dear sir, if you’d be so kind-hearted,

As to leave a gift for an angel that has not yet departed.’

Father Yule then grinned at the hobbit’s earnest intentions

And his love for the goodness of hobbits grew and stretched for dimensions

He thought fondly, Merry had not asked for anything for himself

As others might have, ones of his same wealth

But a simple trinket for his unborn nestling

Was all he had wanted, though he could have got anything

‘Young hobbit! No doubt,’ he chortled, ‘Of course!’

And those rumbled words seemed to Merry to come of a dwarf

‘Just hold but a minute!’ and the jolly one reached in his sack

And seemed to get lost in his red satin pack

But when he finally emerged he held in his glove

A silver clip that glittered like stars from above

It shimmered like silver spun from a spider

And Merry’s eyes shone as he did admire,

The fine workmanship, like from tiny hands

The specks in the silver shone like diamond sands

It seemed to emanate some soft argent light

That glimmered and glistened through the darkness of night

Specks of all colors were intertwined in metal-make

As it twisted and looped into the shape of flake

It was so lovely he could not accept,

Merry looked up at the Spirit and nodded to reject

‘I cannot, sir! It is simply too lovely, and so I must protest

It seems something too special to take on request.’

And yet again, the love for the Halflings did grow

As Father Yule witnessed the pureness in Merry’s heart so

‘Young Merry,’ he said with proud cheer in his eyes, pure

‘This is for your child more than anyone else, I am sure.’

And so he reached to the lad and in his hand placed

The silver-work spun instead of metal, like lace

‘It is made from the motes of moonbeams on high,

The crispness of cold winter air in the sky,

From flecks of holly, and specks of gold-light,

From the smiles and laughter of Yuletide delight,

From the songs of angels, voices so virginal,

And the crackling of warm, warding Yule Log kindle,

But most importantly it is wrought with love,

From the heavens to your babe, it is sent from above,

Though she shall never need the last, I can see clear,

As she surely has enough of it here.’

And without one word more, he did not longer linger

A smile on his face, Father Yule made a snap of his finger

And suddenly he seemed in an instant to become

Strewn golden confetti and essence of sugar-plumb

He was gone already before Merry could say his adieus

And there Merry stood staring, feeling rather confused!

But upon hearing the ring of bells jingling,

He dashed to the window in the parlor, stumbling,

He looked outside and the new laid snow

Looked like Haven’s blanket sent to tuck-in all below

Ole Father Yule and his sleigh rose to the sky

And Merry watched from the window the coursers climb high

Like a child he grinned at his delight

Of seeing the Spirit of Yule’s sleigh in the sky on this night!

But before he could release the enchanted chuckled within

The loud crackling of firewood suddenly started him

And opening his eyes quickly, Merry was soon to find,

That he sat still in his chair, as he had all the time!

His mind reeled, ‘Twas a dream!

He looked around waking, but one it did not seem

‘I cannot believe it!’ he thought in his mind

‘That whole event was a musing of mine!’

He looked then to the table beside his chair,

And noticed the Brandy bottle empty there,

‘That must’ve been it, then!’ He admonished himself

‘Brandy Hall’s finest made me imagine that elf!’

He chuckled despite himself, and saw the fire was dying

The hour was late, there was no denying

‘What a right jolly old dream to have dreamt, tonight of all nights!

Well, I suppose this one day was the one, to be right.’

‘A girl then,’ he mused, without real thought of will

And pulled the covers closer to keep out the chill

He was still cozy, all snug in his chair

When he realized that he held something in his hand, there

He unclenched his grip and to his surprise

A silver-shimmering gift shone before his eyes

His mouth all agape, still staring at his palm

Jingle bells outside began playing their song

And he dashed then to the window, as he had in his dream

And found that the premonition was all that it seemed,

As high up above, he fancied he saw a sleigh

While the first luster of sunlight heralded day

Sounded then was a joyful shout and he grinned ear to ear

‘Merry Yuletide to All!’ is what he did hear!