'Twas the Night Before Leaving Poem

Yet another poem from the talented Jack from the September Message Boards!

Twas the night before leaving
when all through the house
not a creature was stirring,
including my spouse.

The luggage was packed
and repacked with care
in hope that our daughter
would soon find us there.

No child was nestled
or snug in our bed,
she slept that night
in her orphanage bed.

And Mama in her kerchief
with luggage in sight
had just settled our brains
for a long sleepless night.

When out on the lawn
there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed
to see what was the matter.

Away to the window
I flew like a flash,
tore open the shutter,
and threw up the sash.

The sun on the grass
and the newly formed dew
gave promise of morning
time to bid our adieu.

When, what to my wondering
eyes should appear,
but a yellow airport taxi
and our friends we hold dear.

With a little old driver,
so lively and pip,
I new in a moment
we started our trip.

More rapid than eagles,
to our cities we came,
and we whistled and shouted
and called them by name:

Albuquerque! Dallas! Phoenix ! LA!
Hong Kong! Beijing! Guangzhou today!

From the Great wall of China
To the Province of Guandong
Now Dash Away! Dash Away! Dash Away ALL!

Like treasure from heaven
in our arms they did place
our precious new daughter
tears fell from our face.

So up to the hotel room
with our child we flew
our new bundle of joy
"We have presents for you."

And then, in a twinkling,
I heard from the door
"Paperwork to do!"
I heard myself "MORE?"

Like rain from the heavens
when hurricanes fly
Tears just like raindrops
fell from our eyes.

We bathed her and dressed her
from her head to her toe.
With ribbons and dresses
and a giant hair bow.

A bundle of clothes we had
that were to big or to small
We sent to the orphanage
to be shared by them all.

Her eyes- how they twinkled!
Her dimples, how merry!
Her cheeks were like roses,
my nose red as a cherry!

Her beautiful smile
was drawn up like a bow,
and both of her parents
seemed to give off a glow.

A stamp of her foot
and a print from our thumb
made a family of us
the adoption was done!

Passport! and Visa!
then the Consulate Visit.
Our paperwork done?
Afraid that it isn't.

A wink of an eye
and a twist of a head
soon gave me to know
We had nothing to dread.

He spoke a few words,
went straight through our work
double checked our documents
then turned with a jerk.

He wanted to know
"was this the daughter we chose"
and giving a nod,
up from his desk he arose.

They gave the approval
and we gave a loud whistle,
And away we all flew
like the down of a thistle.

They heard us exclaim,
both me and my wife:
"Blessings to all and to all a good life!"

Jack Hilton