The Night Before Cavsmas
(a Christmas poem for my son, the Cleveland Cavaliers fan, who for Christmas would love LeBron to read and leave a comment on his poem)
‘Twas the night before Cavsmas and all through “The Land”,
The streets were as silent as one clapping hand.
The hoops were all hung by the chimney with care,
To catch Air LeBrons, a black and red pair;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of basketballs bounced through their heads;
And mamma with her foam hand, and I in my headband,
Had just settled down for a trip into dreamland;
When out in the driveway arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the curtains and threw up the sash.
The moon where it shone with a glitter of sorts
Lit a group of tall men wearing long, baggy shorts.
And one older man in a little black hat,
I knew in a moment it must be Coach Blatt.
They were locked in a battle - a 4-on-4 game,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name.
Now Mozgov! now Delly! now Mo and The King!
On J.R.! On K-Love! On Shump and Irving!
To the top of the key! Come on dribble that ball!
Now lay it in! Swish it in! Dunk it in all!
As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the housetop the ballers they jumped,
Their game never stopping; still they jostled and thumped!
And then, in a twinkling, I heard their orange ball
Sail down through the flue and careen off the wall.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. James leapt for the rebound.
He wore a red jersey, all trimmed out in white
And must have stood nigh nine or ten feet in height!
On his feet huge black Nikes, a gold ring on each hand,
23 on his chest and a jolly fur sweatband.
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
Filled with bobbleheads, pennants, and more bric-a-brac.
His grin was spread wide, like a big cheshire cat’s
And his arms and his legs were all covered with tats.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread:
“We’re in this together,” said the tall Santa King
“And in June we’ll bring home the next NBA ring!”
Then he launched into action with a set of jump shots,
Filled up all the stockings left out by the tots.
And lifting his hands up in one mighty thrust,
He disappeared then in a cloud of chalk dust.
As I pinched my arm thinking, “Whoa! Am I awake?”
The team sprinted off in a final fast break.
But I heard them all shout, ere they drove out of sight–
Merry Cavsmas to all, and to all a good night!
The streets were as silent as one clapping hand.
The hoops were all hung by the chimney with care,
To catch Air LeBrons, a black and red pair;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of basketballs bounced through their heads;
And mamma with her foam hand, and I in my headband,
Had just settled down for a trip into dreamland;
When out in the driveway arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the curtains and threw up the sash.
The moon where it shone with a glitter of sorts
Lit a group of tall men wearing long, baggy shorts.
And one older man in a little black hat,
I knew in a moment it must be Coach Blatt.
They were locked in a battle - a 4-on-4 game,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name.
Now Mozgov! now Delly! now Mo and The King!
On J.R.! On K-Love! On Shump and Irving!
To the top of the key! Come on dribble that ball!
Now lay it in! Swish it in! Dunk it in all!
As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the housetop the ballers they jumped,
Their game never stopping; still they jostled and thumped!
And then, in a twinkling, I heard their orange ball
Sail down through the flue and careen off the wall.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. James leapt for the rebound.
He wore a red jersey, all trimmed out in white
And must have stood nigh nine or ten feet in height!
On his feet huge black Nikes, a gold ring on each hand,
23 on his chest and a jolly fur sweatband.
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
Filled with bobbleheads, pennants, and more bric-a-brac.
His grin was spread wide, like a big cheshire cat’s
And his arms and his legs were all covered with tats.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread:
“We’re in this together,” said the tall Santa King
“And in June we’ll bring home the next NBA ring!”
Then he launched into action with a set of jump shots,
Filled up all the stockings left out by the tots.
And lifting his hands up in one mighty thrust,
He disappeared then in a cloud of chalk dust.
As I pinched my arm thinking, “Whoa! Am I awake?”
The team sprinted off in a final fast break.
But I heard them all shout, ere they drove out of sight–
Merry Cavsmas to all, and to all a good night!
