Reign Deer

Two centuries past, this December twenty-three,
was the first account of Saint Nick, as most agree.

This bicentennial another story be told.
Magnifying the nature of this loved tale so old.

We all know eight tiny reindeer drive Saint Nick's sleigh each year.
And before that, they must pass flight training at the top tier.

Today, Saint Nick calls it Reindeer Development School.
The reindeer call it:
Reign Deer

~ ~ ~
Reign Deer is written in honor of, and will be released on, the 200th anniversary of "A Visit from St. Nicholas", also known as "'Twas the Night Before Christmas", December 23rd, 2023.

This couplet poem is written in largely the same style as "A Visit from St. Nicholas", "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", and others!

Reign Deer tells the story of Saint Nick's reindeer flight school and answers several questions which are seriously debated, including:
• How do reindeer learn to fly?
• Are reindeer immortal like Santa?
• What is the current and previous dynamic between Krampus and Santa?
• Why is the 5th reindeer mentioned in the original poem called "Donder", and in modern versions of the story, they are called "Donner"?
• Are reindeer male or female? And if some are male, why don't they shed their antlers on schedule?
• How does Santa visit every house in the world on Christmas Eve night? (and DOES Santa visit every house on Christmas Eve Night?)
• And more!

Author Jason Gaidis is a retired U.S. Navy pilot and has his MFA in Creative Writing.