The final note still echoes as we leave the practiceroom.
Dressed to the nines in thin, red gowns,
The chilly air seeps in aswe huddle together, trembling, in four unruly lines.
To the front of theschool, we rush like a cloud of snowflakes,
Eagerly awaiting our call toaction.
Something is awry - concert delayed 15 minutes.
From somewhereabove, the wind blows down gusts of rain,
Chilling our bare, goose-bumpedarms;
"Huddle! Closer!" "Stay warm!"
"Try to dodgethe raindrops!"
Finally the call comes -
"You're on in two! Takeyour positions!"
Almost inside, soft white flurries begin to fall-
The first our generation has ever seen here.
As the doors to theantechamber open wide,
The welcome heat blows out and brings feeling back tonumb noses.
Once within, we light our candles with care.
The doors to theauditorium open,
As each head in the audience turns to face the shiveringchoir.
The piano begins its soft refrain;
We step, breathe and ...sing!
In angelic chords, the words ring out, defrosting our verysouls,
"Silent night, Holy night ..."
The warmth of the candlesbrings contentment to our voices,
And with their illumination, a soft sense ofpeace
That "All is calm, all is bright" with theworld.