A VISIT FROM SAM COHEN
Written by me in December, 1963, just before my 15th birthday.
‘Twas on Kislev 25, when all o’er our home
All was quiet, as is well known.
The candles were glowing in the windows with cheer
In memory of the miracle that had happened there.
The children were sleeping quiet in their beds,
While visions of dreidels spun through their heads.
And nana in her rollers and I with a yawn
Had just settled down to sleep ‘til the dawn,
When from the backyard there came such a clatter
That I immediately rose to find out the matter.
I rushed to the window and opened it wide
And quickly looked from side to side.
And then my amazed eyes found what they had sought –
A sleigh with eight minks – I kid you not!
With a little old driver, lively and fast,
That I knew Sam Cohen had come at last.
Quicker than jets his minks flew
And each of them by name he knew:
“Now Ta’alith! Now Tefilin! Now, Pransky and Twistin’!
On, Koufax! On, Kugel! Orthodontia and Blintzie!”
They seemed to defy scientific laws
And landed on the roof with silent paws.
I was turning around when I saw in a flash
Sam Cohen fall down the chimney with a crash.
He put some gelt by the children’s door
And left as quickly as he had come before.
Then fleeing out of sight, he gave this call:
“Zei gezundt – and good night to all!
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