Chanukah Chipmunks

• Winter is coming.  Nights getting longer.  
•           Now that we’ve entered December.
• The smells of the cooking.  The sounds in the kitchen.  
•           These are the things we remember.
• The onions and garlic.  The warm apple sauce.  
•           The draydels that spin ‘til they drop.
• And the bright colored candles.  The chocolate coins.  
•           The presents that everyone brought.
• And now the sun’s going down and all across town, 
• The children are waiting, anticipating: 
• Latkes deep fried by a warm fireside.  
• The stars will come out and bring with them Chanukah  
• The children of Israel a long time ago 
•           Were told they can’t study the bible.
• Their Temple was ruined by Syrian Greeks,
•           Replacing their altar with idols.
• But then they fought back.  Those brave Maccabees.  
•           For years how they fought and they toiled.  
• And these days we remember their “Rededication” 
•           With draydels and candles and oil.
• And now the sun’s going down and all across town,
• The children are waiting, anticipating: 
• Latkes deep fried by a warm fireside.  
• The stars will come out and bring with them Chanukah  
•  I have so many childhood memories 
•           Wrapped up with Chanukah season.
• My Dad with his presents, my Mom with her singing, 
•           And stories to help me start sleeping.
• The games that we played with draydels and coins 
•           And betting which candle will last.
• And today as I play with my own family, 
•           I’m reminded of Chanukahs past.
• I see the Sun’s going down and all across town, 
• The children are waiting, anticipating: 
• Latkes deep fried by a warm fireside.  
• The sky’s almost dark.  Let’s get ready to start.  
  
• And now that it’s night, let’s turn out the lights 
• And all gather close to light the menorah, 
• Singing our songs, and filling our homes 
• With laughter and cheer, now Chanukah is here.
• Now Chanukah is here.

© 2019 by Myron Schreck