'Twas The Night Before Christmas - Care Home Version

Here's a poem I wrote to try and put a smile on the faces of the wonderful Care Home staff who work so hard providing love and care to residents. I want you all to know that we appreciate what you do and are thinking of you all while you are working your Christmas shifts.

'Twas the night before Christmas - A poem

’Twas the Night Before Christmas (Care Home Edition)

’Twas the night before Christmas, and at "Sunny View,"

The night shift were weary, The residents too.

The compression socks hung by the heater with care,

In hopes that the podiatrist soon would be there.

The residents nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of custard creams danced in their heads.

And Joan in her nightie, and Fred in his cap,

Had just settled down for a ten-minute nap.

When out in the lounge there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my desk to see what was the matter.

Away to the day room I flew like a flash,

(And tripped on a walker with a terrible crash).

The glint of my torch on the white safety-flooring,

Gave a lustre of midday to gentlemen snoring.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I thought, "Is that old Arthur? Or is it St. Nick?"

More rapid than agency staff they all came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:

"Now, Gladys! now, Mavis! now, Arthur and Bill!

On, Margaret! on, Norman! And please don't fall ill!

To the top of the hoist! To the top of the wall!

Use your frames! Use your sticks! And please don't you fall!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,

So up to the rooftop the coursers they flew,

With a sleigh full of biscuits, 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 extractor fan Santa came with a bound.

He was dressed all in red, from his head to his foot,

And the Senior Nurse shouted, "Watch your boots don't drop soot!"

A bundle of gifts he had flung on his back,

He looked like the inspector with a CQC pack.

His eyes, how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

Though his blood pressure seemed just a little bit scary.

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings (then turned with a jerk).

He left extra hearing aid batteries there,

And six pairs of glasses for each vacant chair.

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And checking the rota, 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,

"Has anyone seen where I parked? ...Ah, Goodnight!"

Pete Middleton

Xmas 2025