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KaiYeves
19-December-2008, 01:05 AM
As previously posted on the "Removing Santa's Magic" thread, in this parody of my own creation, the ISS crew enjoy a visit from Santa Claus:

'Twas the night before Christmas, on the ISS
Not a creature was stirring, the crew was at rest
The experiments all had been closed up with care
In hopes that good results soon would be there

The spiders were nestled all snug in their beds
While visions of one-g danced in their heads
And the crew in their bags, putting on their nightcaps
Had just settled down for an Earth-approved nap

When up from the Zvezda, there came such a clatter
They unzipped and hurried to see what was the matter
Away to the window, they floated in a flash
Barely avoiding a zero-g crash

Reflected Earthlight from the planet below
Gave the lustre of day to each steel truss and row
When, what should they find as the cause of this shock
But a bright red rocket, attempting to dock!

Now trying for stealth, not one dared talk
As they floated quietly to the air lock
Each of them unsure of what they would see
No visit was due, so what could it be?

Through Destiny, Unity, Harmony, Pirs
They crept slowly forwards, in spite of their fears
They'd sneak just a peek from behind a wall
And if it was danger, they'd dash away all.

And then in the Soyuz they'd homeward fly
As they had trained for mishaps in the sky
But this exactly was unknown to the crew
This anomaly was so totally new

And then, in a twinkling, they heard just a snatch
Of the opening of a spacecraft's crew hatch
As they turned to see the source of the sound
Through the air lock St. Nicholas came with a bound

He was dressed all in red, that was quite plain to see
And he moved as if used to their zero-g
A bundle of gifts 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 smiling, yet mute
And the beard of his chin, white as a space suit.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And they laughed when they saw him, in spite of themselves!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave them to know there was nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And gave them all gifts, then turned with a jerk.
And with a salute, to these three so brave
And back to his rocket, he went with a wave!

He undocked so smooth, they heard nary a whistle
Then his craft flew away, like the down of a thistle
But the transmission came, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Cosmic Christmas to all, to the world a good-night!"

Graybeard6
19-December-2008, 06:41 AM
Most excellent! Keep at it,

BetaDust
19-December-2008, 08:19 AM
Great Work Kai!

man on the moon
19-December-2008, 09:03 AM
/nitpick

They wouldn't have heard a whistle...

/end nitpick

I enjoyed your take of the classic, I did! For the most part you kept not only the original meter, but the thought sequence/development/theme of each verse as well. :)

KaiYeves
19-December-2008, 08:33 PM
I just changed that.

sabianq
19-December-2008, 08:49 PM
nice!

KaiYeves
20-December-2008, 04:02 PM
And as for what sort of rocket Santa was flying, I imagined it as one of those streamlined blue delta-winged shuttles from the space specials Walt Disney did in the 50s. Only painted red.

mahesh
20-December-2008, 04:13 PM
Kai...that's so beautiful. thanks for sharing it.
just thinking...why wouldn't you like to send your sweet creation to the ISS. i bet they get gazzillions of messages from everybody...but may be NASA could do something with it. their bands must be really broad. data transmission-wise, they might at least consider it.

no harm trying. another cliché....nothing ventured, noth...

Go Kai..Go! perfect timing. NASA are partial to perfection, i feel.

mahesh
20-December-2008, 04:24 PM
i would like to share this with my baby. i know he would love it too.
only that we have to wait for a while. for me to get another monitor, as our current one has blown its gaskets or something.

KaiYeves
20-December-2008, 04:32 PM
I just sent it on a holiday card. Thanks for the suggestion!

bunker9603
20-December-2008, 04:34 PM
Kai that is very good and I agree that you should forward this to NASA.

mahesh
22-December-2008, 12:21 PM
I just sent it on a holiday card. Thanks for the suggestion!
that's nice...Kai...I hope they have a chance / time to read it and appreciate your extending a hand across the space.

mahesh
29-December-2008, 07:15 PM
Oooooh, they have, Kai :D

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html

Salty
30-December-2008, 10:46 AM
Kai, that was delightful. Thanks for posting it.
Glad NASA approved it.