Republished with permission from Lucian K. Truscott IV

‘Twas the night before shutdown, when all through the House

Not a member was stirring, not even a mouse

The funding bill was hung around everyone’s neck with care,

In hopes that a solution would soon be there;

Republicans were nestled all snug under Trump’s wing

While visions of cutting kids lunch money they all did all sing;

And Trump in his comb-over and Musk with his rocket

Had just settled in for tax cuts on the docket

When over the Capitol steps there rose a full moon

Under it were Democrats singing a different tune

Away to his X Musk flew like a flash

To list government programs he wanted to trash

Trump soon joined in with a post on Truth Social

Lies flying everywhere, boy was he boastful

When what to his lying eyes did appear

But Nancy Pelosi ready to interfere

Trump posted quickly without a glitch

I thought you broke your hip, you old commie witch

I made a special trip, Nancy called, my vote is in need

To ensure your raid on democracy will not succeed

And she whistled and shouted and called them by name

Now Jeffries, now Lieu, now Clark and Judy Chu!

Come Gallego, come Swalwell, come Lee and Eshoo!

Here Loftgren, here Shiff, and Sherman and Stanton

On Moulton, on Omar, on Davis, and Landsman!

To the House floor! To stand up and stand tall!

Now dash away, dash away, dash away all!

And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

Tiny hooves of Republicans, every one a frightened goof

They were awaiting instructions from Johnson or Musk

Or from Trump something more threatening and brusque

Vote with me, vote with me, vote with me now!

Trump thundered as before him Republicans did cowe

But not Nancy or Eric or Zoe or Tony

Or Adam or Maxine or Debbie or Nikki

Not Jared or Glenn or Steny or Kweisi

Or Debbie or Rashida or Ilhan or Shiri

Not Benny or Andy or Josh or Jerrold

Not Alexandria or Ritchie or Dan or Jamaal

Democrats stood together, their hearts full of merry

They looked upon Donald as not at all scary

And about Elon they were very contrary

We will stand against you forever, the Dems all did shout

That’s not what our party or our country is about

So bring on your scare tactics and bring on your fear

We have principles and a Constitution that we hold dear

Billionaires, millionaires, scoundrels and thieves

We’ll pass over your rooftops and under your eaves

You’ll not get our votes or our respect or our help

Not with Trump and with Musk continuing to yelp

Sounding like Orban and Putin and worse

Oh, how those men and their fascism we do curse!

Away from our democracy we refuse to veer

So be gone with you, it’s Christmas, a time of good cheer

And I heard Hakeem exclaim, as Dems flew out of sight

We’ll be back in January with all our might

To work for democracy and all that is right

And for this year and next, to all a good night!