A Visit From St. Nicholas
 T was the night before Christmas, when all And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
through the house The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there; He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
The children were nestled all snug in their beds, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes
While visions of sugarplums danced in their heads; and soot;
And mamma in her  kerchief, and I in my cap, A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter s nap, And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, His eyes how they twinkled! his dimples
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. how merry!
Away to the window I flew like a flash, His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
Gave the lustre of midday to objects below, The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer, He had a broad face and a little round belly,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick, That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
by name; Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
 Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
and Vixen! And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donner and Blitzen! And laying his finger aside of his nose,
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all! He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky; But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
So up to the housetop the coursers they flew,  Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too.
Similes and Metaphors
Find three metaphors or similes in the poem. Write the phrases below and note if the example
is a simile or metaphor.
1. ______________________________________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________________________________
.
3. _______________________________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2012 K12reader.com. All Rights Reserved. Free for educational use at home or in classrooms. www.k12reader.com
A Visit From St. Nicholas
 T was the night before Christmas, when all And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
through the house The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there; He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
The children were nestled all snug in their beds, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes
While visions of sugarplums danced in their heads; and soot;
And mamma in her  kerchief, and I in my cap, A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter s nap, And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, His eyes how they twinkled! his dimples
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. how merry!
Away to the window I flew like a flash, His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
Gave the lustre of midday to objects below, The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer, He had a broad face and a little round belly,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick, That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
by name; Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
 Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
and Vixen! And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donner and Blitzen! And laying his finger aside of his nose,
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all! He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky; But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
So up to the housetop the coursers they flew,  Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too.
Similes and Metaphors
Find three metaphors or similes in the poem. Write the phrases below and note if the example
is a simile or metaphor.
Examples of correct answers:
1. ______________________________________________________________________________
 I flew like a flash - simile
2. _______________________________________________________________________________
 he looked like a peddler just opening his pack - simile
.
3. _______________________________________________________________________________
 away they all flew like the down of a thistle - simile
Copyright © 2012 K12reader.com. All Rights Reserved. Free for educational use at home or in classrooms. www.k12reader.com