From jbenson@valsmtp.riag.com Tue Dec 24 23:13:18 1996 Date: Tue, 29 Oct 96 07:39:03 -0500 From: Jon Benson Subject: (no subject) I am submitting a poem that I wrote a year or so ago and sent to a guy named Walker,(I left the intro on the poem) though it was after Christmas when he finally got it. In any case, I am submitting it to you now. It is called B-5 Christmas. It's based on the "Night Before Christmas" which is what Walker had wanted. However, I can't seem to find him on the net this year and have heard nothing from him. It has surprised me that some of the content of the poem has come close to developements on the show, at least in spirit. Oh well. Thanks for listening. Jon Benson c/o RIA Group 395 Hudson St. NYNY 10014 jbenson@riag.com [ Part 2: "Attached Text" ] To J.K. Walker I know this is rather late. I did post it to one of the newsgroups, because I lost the printout with your e-mail address on it. However if it wasn't the one you read then you never saw it. As I said in the post, a bit maudlin at times, and full of misspellings... T'was the night before Christmas on Babylon 5, Every human and alien in cluster or hive, Every Minbari, Drazi or PakMara sprite, Every Lurker expectant of the new cycle's light. Sheridan and Ivanova, Garibaldi, Delenn too, Londo, G'Kar, Vir, Lennier and the crew, Each waited dreaming, in their particular way For the artificial dawn of that Day of all days. And I, just a lurker in the cold Downbelow, Watched stars out the portal, hoping he'd show. I was almost asleep when the shimmering woke me, A small glowing Jumpgate just aport of Dock 3. And I saw a great ship trimmed in silver and white, And the hull was deep red, and the viewports gleamed bright. So I ran through the corridors to Docking Bay 3 To behold this great wonder I'd waited to see. But as I was running a darkness crept in, And out past the glass where the stars had once been Was nothing but Shadows blotting out all the light And I knew then, that at last, the end was in sight. Like great evil spiders crawling down a vast web, They approached and I felt my life starting to ebb. But I thought "If I must go, then the last thing I'll see Is that Jolly Old Visitor in Docking Bay 3. So I gathered my courage and pressed on toward the mark, Gleaning some hope from that tiny red spark. And all the while the deep Shadows continued to close, And the darkness grew colder, but still my hopes rose. Then, at last, when I thought I could bear it no longer, I felt a warm glow and that red light grew stronger. And there, in the dock, the light was so strong It pulsed over my body and my ears filled with song. And it pushed past and through me and filled the whole station Touching every creature, touching every nation. And there B-5 burned, a great spinning taper, A beacon of hope piercing Shadows of vapor. When my eyes grew accustomed to the glow of that place, I looked round about and I saw every race. There were human and alien, Marcab and Minbari, A Narn working hand in hand with Centauri, And a great hulking, alien evergreen tree stood afar, With a Vorlon atop it who shone like a star. And he told the great story of how once every year This rite is repeated to renew hope and cheer. And how the very last First One remaining behind Takes to the spaceways to console and remind That a light that is kindled amid deepest Shadows, Shines farther and brighter than anyone knows. And little by little the Shadows fell back, The station revolved and continued to track. And I drifted to slumber in the warmth of Bay 3, While the light and the music played softly on me, And sang, "Shadows will come, and Shadows you'll fight, But rest easy now, for they'll not come THIS night." When I woke he was gone, his helpers, his ship, And I wished him safe passage on his long return trip. And I gazed out the portal and concluded the rite, "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night."