"The Christmas Social at Buena Vista", a Poem by Bill Anthony

THE CHRISTMAS SOCIAL AT BUENA VISTA

“Tis again, that magical time of year

When we all come, a way out here

To Buena Vista, the remnants flock

To turn back the hands, on history’s clock.

We’ll conjure up, the South’s golden past

When she was free, and her farms were vast;

When houses like this one, dotted our land

The centers of life, on plantations grand.

So here we gather by invitation

To remember our roots in our Southern nation,

And to mark the day our Lord first cried

 And why He lived, and why He died.

The Dragoons are our gracious hosts,

So let’s propose some Christmas toasts!

First raise your cups to General Lee

Who gave us this great recipe!

This egg nog comes but once a year,

Our Dragoon hosts provide this cheer;

So let us also toast our hosts

To each of them who’s manned a post.

A camp that works hard every year

To make us happy while we’re here.

We’ll have some tunes of way back when;

Our rebel ghosts will live again.

Within these rooms now filled with mirth

We’ll hear some songs of Jesus’ birth,

And maybe Santa will appear

With goodies and more Christmas Cheer.

And when your tummies are all aglow

And you’ve enjoyed their Christmas show,

You shan't forget this historic site

And you’ll keep your memories of this night,

When a Christmas social in these hallowed rooms

Comes once a year from your Prattville Dragoons.

                                                           From William’s Pen

                                                           December 2018