I received this tree ornament years ago straight from New Orleans. I loved it so much I typed it all up to share with you. Hope you like it!

THE CAJUN NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
by Clement C. Moore
Revised Version by T.B. Deaux

‘Twas the Night before Christmas

when all

tru dat house

Not a tin pass,

no even a mouse!

De Stockings were hung

by de chimney with care,

In hopes dat SANTA CLAWS

soon would be there.

De chil’ren were nestled

all snug in dere beds.

While visions of praulines

dance in dere heads.

An Momma

in her sleep dress,

and I in my coon cap,

Had just settled oursevles

to pass a good,

long nap.

When out on the bayou

dey got such a clatter,

I jumped from de bed

to see what was de matter.

Away to de window

I flew like a jet,

Tore open de shutter and

trew up de mosquito net.

De moon on de bayou

was so bright it glistened.

Even de bullfrogs

were quite and listen’n,

When what to my wonder’n

eyes should appear,

But a flying piroque, and

eight gates coming near,

Wit a petite ole driver so red

and dedicated to his cause,

I knew at dat moment

it got to be Santa Claws!

More rapid than poule d’ due

his courses dey came,

And he hooted and hollered

and fuss at ’em by name:

“Alon, Picou! Alon,  Poche!

Alon, Maurice and Breaux!

On, Landry! On, LeBlanc!

On, Mouton and Comeaux!

To de top of de cypress, to the

top of de slate!

Go you-sedd up dere or you’ll

end up on my plate!”

Like tide waters before de

wild hurricane rise,

When dey meet wit de levee

mount to de sky,

So up to de rooftop

de gators dey flew,

Wit a piroque full of toys,

and Santa Claws too.

And den in a twinkl’n,

I heard on the roof

De scratch’n and snapp’n

of each and every tooth.

He was dressed in nutria

from his head to his tail,

And his clothes were full o’

moos like he been tru a gale,

A bunch o’ playtings he had

flung on his back,

I hope he got something fo’

me in dat sack!

His eyes how dey twinkled!

His dimples how merry!

Dose cheeks were like roses,

Dat nose like a cherry,

Maybe his last stop was for

some of day sherry!

His droll little mouth

was drawn up like a bow,

I guess thas from all

dat hoop’n an’ holler’n

in da piroque.

He had a board face

and a little round belly,

Date shook when he laughed

just like Taunte Tellie’s.

He was chubby and plump,

a jolly old crustacean,

And I laughed when I saw

him, despite my fixation.

Something in his eye and a

knot on his head,

Maybe he’d do better to

stay home in bed.

He didn’t say much, him,

but went straight to his work,

‘Filled dose stockings,

den turned with a jerk,

He pressed his claw

aside of his nose,

And giving a nod,

up de chimney he rose.

He sprang to his piroque,

to his team he hollar,

“AIYEE-E-E-E!”

And away dey all flew

like a big bumble bee.

But I hear him hollar loud,

as his rig passed to de night…

Merry Christmas to all,

And all ya’ll pass

a good night…

…Cher!

What did you think? 

UPDATE 12/1/2012: I actually added it to my bedroom tree this year and took a picture: