A Cuban Bilingual Christmas

 

     'Twas the night before Christmas and

     all through the casa -

     not a creature was stirring...

     Oye Chico!! Que pasa!

 

     Los niños were all tucked away in their camas

     some in long underwear and some in payamas.

     While mamá worked late in her little cocina,

     Papá cooked the pork in la "Caja China!"

 

     The stockings were hanging with mucho cuidado

     in hopes that Ol' Santa would feel obligado.

     To bring all the children, be they buenos o malos,

     a nice batch of dulces y muchos regalos.

 

     Outside in la calle there arose such a GRITO!

     That I jumped to my feet like a frightened gatico..

     I ran to the window and looked pa'afuera,

     and who in the world do you think quien era?

     Santi Clo' in a sleigh, wearing a red Guayabera!

 

     And pulling his sleigh instead of venados,

     were eight burritos aterrizando vo lados.

     I watched as they came, as this fat little hombre

     was shouting and whistling and calling by nombre:

     Ay, Pancho! Ay, Pepe! Oye, Cuca! Ay, Beto!

     Ay, Nacho! Ay, Cuco, Maruca y su Nieto!

 

     Then standing erect with his hand on his pecho,

     He flew to the top of our own little techo!

     With his round little belly like a bowl of jalea,

     He looked around y entonces gritó!

     "Oye, chico, y... ¿ donde está la chimenea!?!?"

 

     Then huffing and puffing, and at last in our sala,

     With his bag of toys and his guayabera de gala.

     He filled ALL the stockings with lovely regalos,

     'Cause none of the niños had been very malos,

 

     Then laughing out loud, seeming very contento,

     He turned like a flash and was gone como el viento.

     And then, I heard him exclaim, and this is PURA VERDAD.

     "MERI CRISMA A TODOS Y FELIZ NAVIDAD!!!! "