Twas the night before 4/20, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The pipes were all placed by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Cannabis soon would be there.
The stoners were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of munchies danced in their heads;
And mamma with her bong, and I with my vape,
Had just settled down for a long, hazy escape.
When out on the lawn there 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 shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen leaves,
Gave a luster of midday to the buds beneath the eaves.
When what to my wondering eyes did appear,
But a miniature sleigh and eight stoned reindeer,
With a little old driver so lively and baked,
I knew in a moment he must be St. Cannabis, for goodness' sake!
More rapid than eagles, his coursers they came,
And he whistled and shouted, and called them by name:
"Now, Doobie! now, Blunt! now, Puffin and Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Danker and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now blaze away, blaze away, blaze away all!"
So up to the housetop, the coursers they flew,
With a sleigh full of herb and St. Cannabis 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 chimney St. Cannabis came with a bound.
He was dressed all in hemp, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of bud he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a round little belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word but went straight to his work,
And filled all the pipes, then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, 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,
"Happy 4/20 to all, and to all a good night!"