‘Twas the Night Before Branna’s Deadline

Who remembers the Noblesville Daily Ledger’s annual Christmas poetry contest? Well, I sure do, as every year it was a competition between my grandma, Bertie Hoover, and I to win the big prize! I started submitting mine in middle school, and who knows how long before that grandma was penning her prose. I won a few, she won a few, and I’m not sure who topped the final count of festive feats in our relative rivalry. 

I admit, I haven’t written poetry in decades, but that’s where I started. My love for the lyrics began around age 8 and here I am at age 67, rediscovering the joy of journaling once again, thanks to you all!  So, I leave you with this, and a wish for the merriest Christmas for you and your loved ones!

‘TWAS the NIGHT BEFORE DEADLINE

‘Twas the night before deadline, for all of the staff

The ideas were swirling, I just had to laugh!

The news and the stories – they all must be written,

The countdown’s begun…we must be submittin’!

More rapid than eagles, I dictated text,

I wondered and pondered what I would say next

As our editor, Tim, asks so lively and quick,

Be it funny or factual – What topic to pick? 

With big shoes to fill and columns galore,

The clock was a-ticking . . . I had to write more!

Then this, to my wandering brain, was made clear:

It must be some fun facts they’re longing to hear.

So I searched and I researched, and Googled with vim,

I was finally ready to send it to Tim.

I read it, re-read it, then read it again,

Relief soon took over where fear had once been

With one final run-through, I got to the end

Then and there I decided to go and hit “send”

Now, there you have it – how my wayward mind  works…

The twists and the turns and the odd little quirks!

To all of our readers, my gratitude swells

For your faith in our newsprint 

Our thanks to you dwells!

Merry Christmas, one and all!

Branna (McCarty) Shores believes that “HOME is where your story begins.” A Noblesville native and proud graduate of NHS and Purdue University, she is a professional speaker, advocate for mental health and work / family balance and retired social worker. Branna is the mother of two grown daughters, six precious grandchildren and wife of one brave husband! Her passions include singing, writing and sharing the lighter side of life through lessons learned, both personally and professionally. She can be contacted at branna18@gmail.com