The Night Before The Rapture

My poem was inspired by Clement Clarke Moore’s “A Visit from St. Nicholas”.   

'Twas the night before the Rapture, and all through the land,

Not a believer was worried because their salvation was planned;

The crosses were hung on the mantle with care,

In hopes that Jesus soon would be there.

The Christians were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of Paradise danced in their heads;

And mamma in her bible, and I in my prayer,

We had just settled our brains and laid our souls bare.

When up from above 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 snow,

Gave a lustre of midday to objects below;

When what to my wondering eyes did appear,

But a gathering of angels filled with good cheer!

And out of their midst a Figure did spring,

I knew in a moment that this must be our King.

More rapid than lightning He flickered in flame,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called Christians by name:

"Now, Daniel ! now, Megan ! now Spencer and Beth!

And, Robert ! and, Margaret ! and, Stephanie and Seth!”

He did not stop until every name did He call;

Then loudly shouted, “Now come away! come away! come away all!"

As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, and blow through the sky;

So likewise, down through the stratosphere the angels flew,

And surrounded the Christians, all in good cheer too—

And then, in a twinkling, I heard from Above,

A Thundering Voice filled with Absolute Love.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down through the heavens He came with a bound.

He was as bright as a candlestick, from His head to His foot,

And His clothes were not tarnished with ashes nor soot;

And all our sins, He happily flung into the sea,

As far as east is from west – we’ll be apart from iniquity.

His eyes—how they twinkled and burst forth like fire!

His countenance was striking as He beckoned us higher!

He radiated Strength and Virtue, with His visage aglow,

And His beard and His hair were as white as the snow.

His flaming appearance was perfect, as were His teeth,

And the smoke, it encircled His head like a wreath;

Spike marks emanated from His hands and His feet,

The healed wounds conveying that His victory was complete!

He was beautifully-effulgent, and as captivating as can be,

It was all I could do to contain my utter glee;

A wink of His eye and a twist of His head,

Evoked euphoria without a word being said.

He held us all in the palm of His hand,

This was so far beyond what we could all understand;

And pointing His finger at all those that He chose,

He gave us a nod, and up to Heaven we rose.

The Trumpet blew and through the air gave a whistle,

And away we all flew like the down of a thistle;

We then heard Him exclaim, as we flew out of sight—

“Happy Christmas to all, on this fantastical Rapture night!”

I hope God blesses us all this year with the Blessed Gift of Jesus Christ!

Humbly