'Twas the night before Chanukah, boichiks and maidels

Not a sound could be heard, not even the dreidels

The menorah was set by the chimney alight

In the kitchen, the Bubbie was hopping a bite

Salami, Pastrami, a glaisele tay

And zoyere pickles mit bagels-- Oy vay!

Gezint and geschmock the kinderlach felt

While dreaming of taiglach and Chanukah gelt

The alarm clock was sitting, a kloppin' and tickin'

And Bubbie was carving a shtickele chicken

A tummel arose, like the wildest k'duchas

Santa had fallen right on his tuchas!

I put on my slippers, ains, tzvay, drei

While Bubbie was eating herring on rye

I grabbed for my bathrobe and buttoned my gottkes

And Bubbie was just devouring the latkes

To the window I ran, and to my surprise

A little red yarmulka greeted my eyes.

When he got to the door and saw the menorah

"Yiddishe kinder," he cried, "Kenahorah!"

I thought I was in a Goyishe hoise!

As long as I'm here, I'll leave a few toys."

"Come into the kitchen, I'll get you a dish

Mit a gupel, a leffel, and a shtickele fish."

With smacks of delight he started his fressen

Chopped liver, knaidlach, and kreplach gegessen

Along with his meal he had a few schnapps

When it came to eating, this boy sure was tops

He asked for some knishes with pepper and salt

But they were so hot he yelled out "Gevalt!"

He loosened his hoysen and ran from the tish

"Your koshereh meals are simply delish!"

As he went through the door he said "See y'all later

I'll be back next Pesach in time for the seder!"

So, hutzmir and zeitzmir and "Bleibtz mir gezint"

he called out cheerily into the wind.

More rapid than eagles, his prancers they came

As he whistled and shouted and called them by name

"Come, Izzie, now Moishe, now Yossel and Sammy!

On Oyving, and Maxie, and Hymie and Manny!"

He gave a geshrai, as he drove out of sight