Twas the Night Before Navidad (Chicano-style)

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through la casa,
Not a creature was stirring – Caramba! Que pasa?
Los niños were tucked away in their camas,
Some in vestidos and some in pajamas. While Mama worked late in her little cocina,
El viejo was down at the corner cantina.
While hanging the stockings con mucho cuidado,
In hopes that old Santa would feel obligado
To bring all children, both buenos y malos,
A nice batch of dulces and other regalos.
Outside in the yard there arose such a grito,
That I jumped to my feet like a frightened cabrito.
I ran to the window and looked out afuera,
And who in the world do you think that que era?
Saint Nick in a sleigh and a big red sombrero,
Came dashing along like a crazy bombero!
And pulling his sleigh instead of venados,
Were eight little burros approaching volados.
I watched as they came and this quaint little hombre
Was shouting and whistling and calling by nombre:
“Ay Pancho! Ay Pepe! Ay Cuco! Ay Beto!
Ay Chato! Ay Chopo! Maruca! Nieto!”
Then standing erect with his hands on his pecho,
He flew to the top of our very own techo.
With his round little belly like a bowl of jalea,
He struggled to squeeze down our old chiminea.
Then huffing and puffing at last to our sala,
With soot smeared all over his ropa de gala.
He filled all the stockings with lovely regalos –
For none of the niños had been muy malos.
Then chuckling aloud, seeming muy contento,
He turned like a flash and was gone like viento.
And I heard him exclaim, and this is verdad,
Merry Christmas to all, and Feliz Navidad!