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                'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE SOLSTICE
                   Special to E-mail WHOOSH
                       By Lynn M. Price 
                   (lprice@kiwi.dep.anl.gov)
                 Copyright 1997 held by author
                           665 words
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                 'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE SOLSTICE
       A Tongue-in-Cheek Look at Solstice in the Xenaverse


'Twas the night before Solstice and all through the inn,
Not a creature was stirring, not even the dogs within.
The weapons were placed by the chimney with care,
In the hope that Solstice soon would be there.
Xena and Gabby were snug in their beds,
While visions of adventures danced in their heads.

Xena in her leather, and Gabby in a cap,
Had just settled down a long winter's nap.
When out on the street there arose such a clatter,
Xena sprang from her bed to see what was the matter.
She ran to the window; it flew up in a flash,
She tore off the shutters, and ripped off the sash!

The moon in the heavens gave off such a glow,
Xena could easily see the objects below.
When what to her eyes should appear,
A rickety sleigh...but what was it doing here?
There was a sly old driver, with a voice so melodious,
It could be no one else but our very own Salmoneous!!

More rapid than harpies, his horses they came,
And he whistled and shouted and called them by name:
"Now Lasher!  Now, Lancer!  Now, Trancer!  Now, Nixon!
On, Vomit!  On, Stupid!  On, Plodder!  On, Drippzen!
To the top of porch!  To the top of the wall!
Now, dash away, dammit, dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before Velasca's whirlwind fly,
When they meet that obstacle, fly up to the sky;
So up to the rooftop, the winged horses they flew,
With a sleigh full of gifts, and Senticles, too!!

And then, in a twinkling, Xena heard on the roof,
The prancing and pawing of all those damned hooves!!
As she drew in her head and was turning around,
Down the chimney Senticles came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were just caked with ashes and soot.
A bundle of gifts he had on his back;
He looked like a peddler opening that sack.
His eyes--how they twinkled!  His nose red like a cherry!
Xena wondered if he drank too much brandy and sherry.

His wee little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard on his chin was (oddly) white as the snow.
A hunk of beef jerky he held in his teeth,
And the room just reeked with the smell of that meat!!
He had a big oval face and big round belly,
That shook when he laughed because he ate too much jelly!!

Senticles was plump, a right big old elf,
And Xena laughed, in spite of herself.
With a wink of his eye, and a twist of his head,
He walked over to Gabby, still asleep in her bed.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to work,
(No, this guy's not THAT kind of jerk!!)

Now, Xena thought the old man was out of his head,
When he walked over to the Gabster still asleep in her bed.
Bu he laid out presents; what a load he brought!!
A cutting knife, a frying pan, and a whip that was taut.
Some blankets, some scrolls, some quills that were hard,
He brought these gifts for our favorite Potadiean bard.

And laying his finger on the side of his nose,
Xena watched him, as up the chimney he rose.
He sprang to the sleigh; Salmoneous gave a shout,
And away they all flew; they didn't hang about!!
Xena heard them exclaim as they drove out of site,
"Happy Solstice to all, and to all, a good night!!"

Happy Holidays, everyone!!


                            Biography

Lynn M. Price (lprice@kiwi.dep.anl.gov)
http://www.thirdstory.com/whoosh/pictures/nopic.jpg
   Lynn Price lives southwest of Chicago, and has been
an avid *Xena* fan since seeing her first episode in
January of 1995.  She first got hooked on the show
while channel surfing at a friend's house!  Lynn's
interest include reading (mysteries and historical
fiction), writing, and collecting movies (especially
films from the silent era and the 1930's).  She is a 
member of the XWP Fan Club, and often hangs out at
theMCA Xena Netforum, where she enjoys sharing her
views about her favorite television show with her
fellow Xenites.
   Favorite episode: A DAY IN THE LIFE (39/215)
   Favorite line: Xena: "I have many skills" A COMEDY
OF EROS (46/222)
   First episode seen: THE BLACK WOLF (11/111)
   Least favorite episode: FOR HIM THE BELL TOLLS
(40/216)