Christmas In Palm Springs  By Buzz Gambill     copyright Buzz Gambill - 2006

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T’was the night before Christmas in our desert town;

No pools frozen over, no snow on the ground.

The children were sleeping in soft, clouded beds,

As visions of skateboards danced in their heads.

To fill little stocking was easy, you see

With oranges and grapefruit right out on the tree.

Through windows in condos, the daddys and moms

Admired the yucca and stately date palms.

In slumberland, the children, all cozy and warm,

Thought of tomorrow and the round, jolly form.

For Santa was already well on his way

In a Lexus golf cart, instead of a sleigh.

Over green courses and courts he flew

To bring his great bounty to me and to you.

The bright, desert moon gave the city a glow

And lighted Palm Canyon, which lay far below.

His bright, fiery comet could be seen from afar,

Illuminating the famous Walk of the Stars.

Singing and dancing were the guys and the dollies

Merrily performing in Rif’s Fabulous Follies.

High above the Tram, sprinkling stardust and glitters,

He brought laughter and joy to all the small critters.

At the Desert Museum, chuckling with glee,

He left treasured antiques around the big tree.

Hotels and casinos were treated the same,

With cards and chips and video games.

To leave happiness and goodies, this is his job,

Sailing over the homes of  Frank, Lucy and Bob.

The Street Festival mime, who uses no chatter’

Interrupts his act as he hears a great clatter.

Like Santa Ana winds, on this soft desert night,

Comes the jovial figure, no reindeer in sight.

Soon then, he arrived and sprang from his cart;

For a man of his age, he was quite young at heart.

Chimneys were scarce on the huge desert floor,

So Santa sneaked in through the patio door.

In a blazing red aloha shirt and shoes sparkling white

And a wide matching belt that glowed in the night,

This round little man with the eternal smile

Emitted a vision seen for more than a mile.

This kind, gentle saint, from a world without time,

Knew that the earth was still in it’s prime.

And then he remembered, eyes twinkling with tears,

That first desert Christmas, back so many years.

That blessed event we all know so well,

Celebrated each year with chimes and with bells

Is honored this night by all those who care

About peace and good will to men everywhere.

Throughout our oasis his kindness would show,

But now it was time for Santa to go,

But before he took leave, he first helped himself

To the cactus preserves, left out on the shelf.

He winked a farewell, then touching his nose,

Departed the desert, where the Joshua Tree grows.

And I heard him exclaim from his chariot of fire,

“Merry Christmas, Palm Springs, it’s here I’ll retire!”

        ~ Buzz Gambill