T'was five days before Christmas, when all through the lairs
Every creature was stirring, even the hares.
Excitement abound, filling the air
In hopes that Santa Tyger would soon be there.
Dragons were pacing all around their beds,
With visions of surprises dancing in their heads.
Dressed in pajamas and maybe a cap,
They could hardly wait to get up from their winter's nap.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
They sprang from their beds to see what was the matter.
Away to the window, they flew like a flash,
To open the shutters and throw up the sash.
The light of the dawn on the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of midday to objects below.
When, what to their wondering eyes should appear,
But a large sleigh, and eight imperials dressed like reindeer.
So lively and quick was the young little driver,
They knew in a moment it must be Santa Tyger.
More rapid than eagles her coursers they came,
And she whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
"Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now Prancer and Vixen!
On Comet! On Cupid! On Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the lair! To the top of it all!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the lair top the imperials they flew,
With the sleigh full of gifts, and Santa Tyger too.
And then, in a twinkling, they heard on the lair
The prancing and clawing of each little "deer."
As they drew in their heads, and were turning around
Down the chimney Santa Tyger came with a bound.
She was dressed all in fur, from her head to her foot,
And her clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of gifts she had flung on her back,
And she looked like a peddler, just opening her pack.
Her eyes how they twinkled! Her stripes, how merry!
Her cheeks were like roses, her nose like a cherry!
Her droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the fur around her face was white as the snow.
A clump of papers she held tight in her fist,
And to the peeking dragons it looked just like a list.
She had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when she laughed, like a bowl full of jelly!
She was chubby and plump, a right jolly young cat,
And the dragons laughed when they saw her, just like that!
A wink of her eye and a twist of her head,
Soon let them know they had nothing to dread.
She spoke not a word, but went straight to her work
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying her finger aside of her nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney she rose!
She sprang to her sleigh, to her team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard her exclaim, 'ere she drove off away,
"Merry Secret Santa, and to all a good day!"
) and spread Christmas joy to all! I go by the name of Imperia!
