‘Twas The Night Before Christmas
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the land
Not a game was a playing, nor scheduled or planned;
The skates were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that a season soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of soccer games danced in their heads;
And coach with her whistle, an empty rink where they sat,
Wondering where all the players were at,
When out on the drive there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Out there was a basketball thrown through the net,
Away from the window my shoes I should get.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to the quarterback’s eyes should appear,
But a receiver out running, he was in the clear,
With their feet on the ground, so lively and quick,
The children were playing with a ball and a stick.
More rapid than eagles the sports fans they came,
They whistled, and shouted, and called out their games;
“Now, RUGBY! now, VOLLEYBALL! now, SOCCER and TRACK!
On, HOCKEY! on BASKETBALL! Please, please come back!
To the top of the podium! to the finish line first!
Now dash away! dash away! 2020’s the worst!”
So put on your mask, keep your distance inside,
Sanitize, vaccinate, do it with pride
For the New Year is coming it won’t be the same,
If we all do our part we’ll get back in the game.
And then, with a twinkling, like the one in our eye
We’ll see trophies lifted, see high jumpers fly.
As ice starts to melt, when the air’s not so cool,
Out cyclists, out runners, swimmers out to the pool.
Dressed all in uniforms, from head to their feet,
Goals and three pointers lift us out of our seat.
A crowd starts to gather and safely come back,
To tournaments and races our suitcases packed.
Kids eyes — how they twinkled! when they saw the fresh field!
Trainers wrap bruises like presents, soon to be healed.
And the playoffs will come like the new morning snow,
And the beard of his chin grown like Santa’s to show;
So speak not a word, use this time, set your sights,
Keep training, keep working, and soon reach new heights.
Like Christmas Eve patience, presents under the tree
Will be that excitement when our teammates we see.
Not a ball, not a stick, not a glove, it’s our health,
The greatest gift to an athlete, it’s greater than wealth.
And you’ll hear us exclaim, as COVID drives out of sight,
HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!
– From CKSN.ca