Letter to Editor: "Twas Almost the Night Before Christmas in Cobb"

‘Twas almost the night before Christmas and all through were still open for its students, teachers, and townies. The stockings were hung by the chimney with rushed care, No time for traditions that were typically there.
The children were nestled, all snug in their beds
But visions of exams danced in their heads.
And mama in her kerchief and I in my cap
Could not settle down with our family at a last.

When all around my house there arose such a clatter
I sprang from my bed…I know what’s the matter!
Away to last winter my mind flew like a flash,
When the three new board members had started to clash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to so long ago.
When, what to my wondering mind did appear
But the caucus of four, and their agenda, so clear.
With a little old leader, so nasty and quick,
They had

More rapid than eagles new board members they’d came
With a secret agenda and a platform to blame.
Now
Said “Down with wisdom, down with facts, down with taxpayer votes!”
“To all of our residents, you’re talking to a wall!”
“We will bash away your beloved calendar, and that’s not all!”
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
To Glover Street the caucus, they flew,
And with an

And then, in a twinkling, we heard stories told
How the new board members wouldn’t work with the old.
As I thought about that and was turning around,
I realized that St. Nicholas would soon come with a bound.
He’d be all dressed in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes would be tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he’d have on his back,
And he would look like a peddler just opening his pack.
This time should be cherished with family so merry!
Not worrying about school and running around harried.
When will we have time to bake cookies, visit friends, go to church?

We should be reading stories about Santa and his big round belly,
That shakes when he laughs like a bowlful of jelly.
We should be caroling, shopping, spending time with each other
And laughing and singing with our sisters and brothers.
In a wink this new board had put our old calendar to bed,
I should have known it was something to dread;
Yet many spoke not a word, and let them do their work,
And now we're stuck with some board members who are just jerks.
If I could lay my finger aside of my nose,
And give a nod, like Santa, up the chimney they’d go.
But all we can do is bide time in this fight.
Happy Holidays to all, and to all a good night!

Robin Gantek, Acworth, GA (Mom to 3 awesome Cobb County kids!)