My Christmas Card to All (Especially Casco Bay)

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Nov 9, 2008
1,338
Pearson-O'Day 290 Portland Maine
T’was Another Night Before Christmas,

T’was the night before Christmas, St Nick at the reins,
Putting up bravely with aches and some pains
He’d climbed every chimney, that jolly ol’ elf
Delivering such joy, never thinking of self
But now as he flew o’er his very last nation
He said to the deer, “Boys, we need a vacation!”

So back at the “Pole,” sail brochures in his hand
He scanned the bright photos, pretty girls, and white sand
And as he imagined himself in a thong,
He rightly corrected “Oh, that is SO wrong!”
That jolly ol’ elf, his sense to regain
Turned his attention to the rough coast of Maine

“Now there’s a fine place where we could have fun
Not just filled with beaches, umbrellas, and rum
But sailing a plenty, with bays that abound
A rocky bound coast, fresh pines all around”
So he picked up the phone to schedule his charter
And asked Mrs. Nick to tend to the larder

June finally arrived with warm weather too,
Then came St Nick with his well-antlered crew
The broker, a mean kid, who’d got coal Christmas nights,
Set them up on a Hunter, just out of spite,
They sailed South Casco, with Portland astern
Studying the charts with plenty to learn

On his way past Fort Gorges, the fog set in tight
He sailed out Fore River, and turned past Ram Light
Thick as pea soup, Nick thought it might rain,
So he slipped on his foulies and let out the main,
He set both his sails and trimmed them with care
This southerly 12 knot should sure get them there

Nick poured o’er the charts for a place they could anchor
A quieter place, with no boats, kids, nor rancor
And what to his wandering eyes did appear?
The place of his rest had just become clear
“Christmas Cove is surely the best place for me!”
But right behind Jewell, they got stuck in the lee

“The wind is quite light, can’t reach on this tack
Let’s look for a place to stop for a snack.”
They settled on Bailey’s with Cook’s for the meal
“In the middle of summer, they must give a good deal”
Up the Merriconeag, oft called a Sound
And east in the cove where bouys abound.

The wind in the lee had turned ‘round just right
Into the marina, full sail and great fright
“Now Dasher and Dancer, you strike the main
And Comet and Cupid, the jib, don’t refrain!”
Then Santa himself, pulled hard on the tiller
They just tapped the pier, a move that was killer.

So Dasher, and Dancer, Prancer, and Vixen
Comet and Cupid, Donder and Blitzen
Jumped onto the pier and past the rock wall
Helping each other, that no deer should fall
And asking for lobster, an orderly line
Receiving crustacean, on which they could dine

They laughed and they feasted, they talked then they pined
‘Bout having to leave their pal Rudolph behind
He is great on the water when sailing is brisk
But that red nose of his, a navigational risk
So he opted to stay with the Mrs. instead
Helping with cookies and baking some bread

Then St Nicholas, that selfless old elf,
Raised up his glass, and toasted his wealth
Of friends and of family, those far and near
Who come to ones mind at this time of the year
Tho’ Peace, Love, and Joy are words with some reason
Christ is in Christmas, the name for the season.

Merry Christmas to All

Don

 

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Tim R.

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May 27, 2004
3,626
Caliber 40 Long Range Cruiser Portland, Maine
Nice job Don. Just got back from the annual boat parade. We went right past Fort Gorges.
 
Nov 9, 2008
1,338
Pearson-O'Day 290 Portland Maine
And to All of you as well!

This actually IS my Christmas card, but I thought you folks would enjoy it more than most of the people I'm going to send it to. I hope I've garnered a few smiles.


Happy Holidays!

Don
 
Feb 2, 2010
373
Island Packet 37 Hull #2 Harpswell Me
Great poem, brings back memories of good sailing this year and prospect of even better winds next year.
 
Jul 13, 2010
1,097
Precision 23 Perry Hall,Baltimore County
Don , that was awesome!! Check the house E-mail Thanks. Dave
 
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