A Portsmouth Rotary Christmas Carol

'Twas the week of Chriskwaanzakah, and all through the City

Surplus Rotary garland was draped, it was festive and pretty.

The stockings were hung by the tree-trailer, there

Decked with six hundred ornaments Janice had hung with care.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds

With Basil's poinsettias surrounding their heads.

President Tony was snoring, his nightcap askew

As he dreamt with a smile that his year's half-way through.

At the Country Club, Ted Alex assembled a festive train set

Under careful supervision by Neal Ouellett.

Tenley , Judy, John Rice were an episode from Glee --

The only three members who sang right on key.

A paradox (Beck & Herold) worked to cure varied ills

While Deb tallied attendance cards with Lisa Mills.

Well-decorated the fine bucket was

Polished nicely with care by Edison and Kniaz.

Nick A. and Bob F. counseled two Lyons, one Hoefle

On the subject of bad puns and spellings most woefle.

Christmas cards were assembled and written (quite quickly)

With the help of both Allens (Rev. Gordon and Mickey).

Everett Eaton jogged, passed by Butch, looking fine as the Dickens

And Bob Davis then sprinted first across the finish line (Thunder Chicken's).

The financiers counted tree proceeds with care

'Cause they knew that the money was ready to share.

Ryan and Joe had their abacuses flying

Leonardi checked twice, Powers kept multiplying.

Fincom's Gibson and Hebert gave out plaudits

And Pat Barbour stopped by to handle the audit.

"More wreaths" shouted Nancy, "more firs" hollered Flagg,

"Bring some balsams" called Jamie, "we're starting to lag!"

Stringham fetched string, Andy Chaced down saw blades (he was jolly)

And Tom Deckered the halls with big boughs of fresh holly.

Aileen was still serving turkeys (and how!), ably assisted by Ramona Dow.

Roasting chestnuts was McCardle (Barry), along with Donnermeyer (Sheri).

Up to the podium strode Boyd and Liff, to do a holiday auction riff:

"What are we bid for this number one ornament?"

They made very sure Mort (arf, meow) was content.

They raffled off tickets to Seagren and Seery

While Stella and Norm packed up meals for the weary

Politicians who had trudged through our Rotary Hall

And now awaited Jan 10 to see which ones would fall.

Betsy hung up mistletoe, and Peg was wearing a bright red bow.

Ellen and Jim Labrie trimmed the tree

That was cut by Clapp and roped by Charlie.

The holiday punch was claimed to be swell

By Browning, Buesing and Brownell.

Dianes (Lavigne and Foley) had fun, wrapping gifts with Pierce and Parkinson.

Rini and Pettigrew snapped till they dropped, as Sara and Leo Photoshopped.

(You getting tired of this doggerel, we bet? We're not half-way through the roster yet!)

Then, out on the golf course there arose such a clatter

We all ran to the window to see what was the matter?!

We spotted a man of indeterminate age, and we knew in a moment it must be Rick Page.

He spoke not a word, he was focused on who

Needed holiday assignments on his Rotarian crew.

"On Pappas, on Philbrick, on Pratt and Luis--

"Prepare to drop gifts down the chimneys in peace.

"We also need wrappers! Can you help me there? Thank you!"

He signaled with gratitude to Bailey and Bohenko.

"Who's stuffing the stockings?" Carl and Al did the deed.

"How about the hors d'oeuvres?" Up stepped Erin and Waheed.

Tubey kept the trees from harm, while Doug MacDonald had his farm

Deliver hundreds of extra Frasers, inventoried by the Russes Graziers.

The holiday feast was getting raves from every single one of the Daves.

Holden and Hodgdon spilled gravy too, and so did David Ferland (Lou).

Contarino ate his fill, as did Splaine, McArdle and Underhill.

Susan and Cassandra Wolfed down desserts (quite good!)

"We agree," said both Janice and Stephen Wood.

"Let's keep eatin'" said Richard Yeaton, and Peter Billipp helped him fill up.

Rotarians all were content, not nervous, with their many efforts at community service.

The crew from Operation Warm tiptoed soft like a mouse

As Donna L. handed new coats to Salvation Army and Crossroads House.

Peter Grace rang a jingle bell, Sandy shared hugs for the holiday.

Taylor, Tabor, Mo and Mark loaded food baskets to carry away.

The Interact team served dinners, carefully aided by Tawnee and Paul.

Kim and Liz collected senior gifts, and Tricia helped to sort them all.

Stanford was anything but Cross, as he cleaned the tree-lot and filled the dumpster

(Which had been ordered by Paul Careno, and was packed down by Justin Gamester).

(It was rumored Gallagher, Grays, Famulari and Finn, might have taken the Christmas Tree trailer for a late-night spin.

If they'd run afoul of Portsmouth's finest,  no doubt, Mark Lorusso would have bailed them out.)

The head table was wrapped in a giant bow, secured by Lucy and Mailhot.

Shannon visited nursing home residents, with a team of club Past-Presidents.

The hands-on crews spread joy and paint, rolled by two Smiths and brushed by Saint.

The Christmas Clock struck nine, then ten: wound carefully by our own Big Ben.

Eric shared a festival of lights, and Marple's art was quite a sight.

Cay and Clayburgh reflected purity, Bill Mortimer provided security.

James P engineered a revolving tree,

Which McDonough and McLaren viewed with McGlee.

Simon, Simpson and Silverman caucused on their holiday plan

It was more than they could handle, so they drafted Rourke and Shaines and Randall.

District Governor Gary stopped by with his moose

Penny tickled its antlers, Leanne gave it a goose.

St. Pierre shoveled coal toward the furnace's scuttle

Aided by Joanna and by Beths Wheland and Tuttle.

Bud Watt was stirring the big soup cauldron, assisted by Jeremy Waldron.

Nobody was stressin' or hasslin'

Not Gene, nor Joannie, nor even Mike Asselin.

Nobody sulky, nobody frowny, nary Nina nor Hank Downey.

Cole and Colbert had established a report that Steven and Stewart would find cheery (times four).

Kelliher told stories most droll, and Kaiser was really on a roll

As he spoke to his iPhone (her name is Sari), to the amusement of Paris Khavari.

At the tree site they removed all the fencin'

( Eveland, Durgin, Fleisher and Benson).

All were happy we sold out early: high-fived Greer both Holt and Hurley.

Kelly wrapped a Hersey bar she'd brought by camel from afar.

Before Long came both Paul and Dana to pack the trailer with Magdalena.

MacInnis and Mallon thanked the inspectors, and Chris replaced the smoke detectors.

"We're ready for the holiday now, it seems!" cheered Frank Nappo and Janis Reams.

The special eBulletin was just about ready

But Ace, the Moose Author, was getting sweaty.

Had he forgotten any club member? (Apologies profuse).

It's hard enough to remember names, but particularly so if you're a moose.

He headed downtown (perhaps for a beer

With his long-time sweetie Olive, the other Reindeer.)

And we heard him exclaim as he wandered from sight

Happy Holidays, all!  From Portsmouth Rotary,  good night.