‘Twas the Night Before Christmas in Charlestown
by Leah Lowe, Multimedia Director
‘Twas the night before Christmas,
and all through Charlestown
Lights twinkled and glowed, our spirit renowned
The festive bright light show, on the square every evening,
Left families in awe, and children believing
That despite the uncertainty, sadness and stress,
The magic of Christmas, had arrived nonetheless
While things were quite different, and not as year’s past,
The Charlestown spirit would endure, and outlast
No pandemic, no loss could stop Christmas from coming,
Or the barump-a-bump-bump of a drummerboy’s drumming
Hark, the angels still sing - the bells are still ringing,
We remember the manger, we remember the meaning
We filled our food pantries, brought bikes and toys,
we donated to causes, shared our blessings and joys
Ice skating and train rides, these traditions we missed
memories of past years, we still reminisced,
with much greater fondness, their value revived
Yet despite 2020, our town’s joy has survived
I ask you my friends, do you hear what I hear?
In this cold silent night, the message rings clear
We’re more than an annual lightshow for tourists
This simpler season, quite perhaps our purest
With no bells and whistles, just the bright Christmas lights
we’ve found moments of joy on the darkest of nights
Through the love of each other, and the hope of tomorrow
we’ve pushed through this year and all of its sorrow
Hark - for 800 years man’s not seen such a star,
so when dear friends and family feel terribly far
Remember we’re all shining under its light
Though distanced, that love from afar still burns bright
We’ll gather again, we’ll have good times and laughter
May its meaning be so much more, from hereafter
And for those who have lost someone special this year,
With you we mourn, for your loved ones so dear
We remember their smiles, in your grief we share
And we’re sorry this year’s been so very unfair
Holidays hurt, when we miss them so much,
the sound of their voice and the warmth of their touch
You’re not forgotten and neither are they,
One day at a time, let that love guide the way
May their spirit live on through the good that you do
And the ones that you love, and the ones who love you
In closing, we hope when you wake Christmas day
The weight of this year, will not get in the way
Because Covid can’t cancel our hope, love, and joy
Or the magic of Christmas for each girl and boy.