Enter the 'New' CafeRg's Splash Picture Poetry Challenge - 'twas The Night Before Christmas'today.
Create your version of "twas The Night before Christmas" poem based on the Tom Browning's "Christmas Stories" Art Print and Clement Clarke Moore's poem "'twas The Night Before Christmas". Art for this challenge is provided by
Art.Com.
Click To Enlarge ArtTwas the Night before Christmas Poem
© Clement Clarke Moore
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
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 house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.
His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"
Enter Your Version Of 'twas The Night Before Christmas Here TodayHow It Will WorkJudges will award 4 poems a score of 1 to 4. SplashHall Members will then vote for those 4 poems and, based on most votes, each poem will be scored 1 to 4. Ties, should there be any, will be broken and decided by the Judges.
Award Banners are given to First Place and Honorable Mention.To enter your 'twas The Night Befor Christmas poem in CafeRg's Splash Picture Poetry Challenge, muse Tom Browing's picture, Clement Clarke Moore's poem 'twas The Night Before Christmas' and and
post your version In This Forum [Here]Top poems are also published on our syndicated blogs including
Rollin Thunder Poetry,
BZoO HomeGrown Radio Blog and
SplashHall Art & Poetry.
There is a limit of 1 poem per person per challenge. Poems that do not have a 'twas The Night before Christmas tone will not be included in the voting or scoring.
SplashHall Host and Staff including Rollin Thunder Staff and BZoO Homegrown Radio Staff are not eligible to enter.
Poems must be submitted and posted at SplashHall Poetry Boards [Here] by Saturday, December 17, 2005 Midnight EST. Then scoring and voting will begin. Winners will be announced shortly thereafter.
Meet The Judges
|  |  |
BZoO Radio Host
Belinda Subraman | SplashHall Poetry
Director
"Witt" Wittmann | SplashHall Host
D. "Sunny" Porter |
Special Guest Judge
Janice Hale-HobbyBZoO Radio Host Belinda Subraman While living in Germany in the 1980s Belinda began Gypsy Literary Magazine and Sanctuary Tape Series where she published writings and vocal performances of poets from many countries. Sanctuary ran about 6 years and Gypsy for 10 years before its resurrection in 2004. She also published many books under the VERGIN PRESS imprint including VOCES FRONTERIZAS, writings based on life on the U.S./Mexican border sponsored by the El Paso Public Library as well as THE GULF WAR: MANY PERSPECTIVES, EARTH TONES, IMAGES OF JIM MORRISON and HENRY MILLER AND MY BIG SUR DAYS.
Belinda’s own writing has grown to span a vast array of subjects, styles and publications. She has traveled in over 20 countries, lived in Europe for 6 years and was part of an East Indian family for 22 years. These cross-cultural experiences often inform her work as well as her experiences as a Registered Nurse. These days her poetry, stories, and art can be found in hundreds of journals, reviews, anthologies, books and chapbooks. Since 1994 her archives are housed at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, in the Center for Southwest Research. Her daily updated web site is
belinda Subraman She also is Editor/Publisher of a multi-media ezine at
GypsyMag and is
BZoO Homegrown Radio Host.
SplashHall Poetry Director Witt Wittmann a recipient of the James A. Rodgers Creative writing award, was born and reared in Lake City, SC. She has attended the the University of South Carolina and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education. Recently retired from the public school system, she now spends her time editing and illustrating books for others. She also the Poetry Directory at Splashhall Poetry. Wittmann is a self-taught, award-winning author and artist. Witt's work has been recognized and displayed at
South Carolina's Artisans Center, and her tatted treasures have been exhibited throughout the state. witt has published two books:
TatWitt: What I learned When I Learned To Tat (Union County Writers Press 2002) and
Musing at La Poulaille (D-N Publishing 2002).
TatWitt is an inspirational book with essays and poetry to motivate people to pursue their love for the arts.
Musing at La Poulaille is a humorous collection of poems delving into the extraordinary world of chickens. You can see some of her tats and books at her
WebSite.
SplashHall Hostess Debbie "Sunny" Porter lives in sunny Florida. Sunny dabbles in all type of arts and crafts. From panty hose dolls, dream catchers and quilts, each unique, never two alike. "When I was a teenager my favorite hobby was making necklaces, and poetry. I enjoy doing digital art, Cin(E)-Poetry, and spoken word Poetry". Sunny has published
Skating on Saturns Rings &
Sensual Lavender Dreams available through
LuLu . You can visit one of her blogs at
Lady SunShine's Aura Sunny has been a SplashHall Hostess for the past 5 year and loves helping others.
Special Guest Judge Janice Hale-Hobby, With poetry published in "Woodrider," "Wordart," "Florida Arts Gazette," "Chimera Connections," "Florida State Poets Association," and other small presses, associations, and specialty magazines, "Flicker," my second-international contest winner, was read on National Public Radio. My children's book, "Staying Back," was released in 1982. I had the distinct honor of being featured to read on stage for and with my mentor, Pulitzer-Prize-winning, Library of Congress and New Hampshire Poet Laureate, Richard Eberhart. I earned a MEd. and hours towards a PhD in Special Education Administration from the University of Florida and taught 33 years in the gifted program and special education in both Florida and Texas until my retirement this year due to multi-level spinal fusion. I was a writing consultant to the Florida Teacher Education Center, liaisons to Shands Teaching Hospital Nerology Dept., wrote grants, ESOL, Science Tech., and Gifted curricula in Florida and Texas, and taught students of all ages in private, public, and laboratory settings. Nominated five times by former students for Who's Who Among American Teachers, I loved it when they came back to visit and update me about their lives. Some claim that I made a difference. Little do they know how much I learn from them! A tenured insructor at the University of Florida Yonge Laboratory School, I moved to El Paso in 1987 with my former-husband, a keyboardist for the 62nd Army Band, an Army nurse, and veteran of Desert Storm. Raised as an Air Force brat, I have lived in all four corners of the USA and the Far East, have two artistic sons, use to breed, train, and show Irish Setters, shoot bow and muzzle-loaders, play Harmony Patrician Recurve guitar, raise bonsais, hike, camp, and newly retired commune daily with The Muse. You Can visit Jan's personal website at
Spirit42004CafeRg's Splash Poetry Picture Challenge "'twas The Night Before Christmas" is sponsored by
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