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© St. Petersburg Times, published December 17, 2001
The eight candles have all been lit, and as Hanukkah draws to a close today at sundown, here is a joyful poem by a young reader celebrating the Festival of Lights.
'Twas the Night Before Hanukkah
'Twas the night before Hanukkah, and all through my room,
Was the smell of cooking latkes, the ones I would eat soon.
The menorahs were out, the decorations were hung,
The songbooks were open, there were prayers to be sung!
The teenagers were all sleeping, all warm in their beds,
While dreams of presents filled both their heads.
And Mom in her sweater, and Dad in his cap,
Had just stopped cooking, before I jumped on their laps.
When inside the kitchen there arose such a clatter, I heard such a noise,
"Hoorays, yippees" and lots of "oh, joys!"
The latkes were done, we could eat them forever,
I knew this would be the best Hanukkah ever!
-- By KARI BECKERMAN, 13, Joseph L. Carwise Middle School, Palm Harbor