‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the print shop
not a machine was whirring, not even the Konica.
The orders were hung by the designers with care
in hopes that each job would soon not be there.
The paper was nestled all snug on the shelf
with versions of Santa and reindeer and elves
from everyone getting their holiday cards done,
until at last all that was left was this one.
Suddenly out on the roof there arose such a clatter,
Roger sprang from his office to see what was the matter.
Away to the garage he flew like a bird
and tore open the door without saying a word.
The light from yonder billboard reflected a glare
from a strange flying object… Roger just stared
and what to his wondering eyes should appear
but a huge 3D printer cruising the atmosphere.
It had a mind of its own, this crazy machine.
It clicked and it buzzed on the rooftop with glee.
More rapid than eagles it spit plastic rain,
and Roger, annoyed, finally hollered at the thing.
“Now You! Knock that off!
You’re nuts, and you stink!
You have no place here,
We’re a print shop with INK!
You’re littering all over,
You messed up the Solar,
You junked up your rollers,
Hey- LISTEN! I’m the owner.”
But 3D wouldn’t have it, the thing just wouldn’t quit.
It hummed and it clicked until out it spit
a tiny plastic figure, right at Roger’s feet
(And, you know, just between us it looked pretty neat).
Roger knelt to retrieve it, heart pounding with dread.
“Better be cooler than a golf trophy,” he said.
As he drew up his hand and was turning around,
down the rooftop the 3D printer came with a bound.
“No, no, no!” Roger squealed. “You stay out in the cold!
You can’t come inside, you’re too out of control.”
The printer drooped and it whined like a sad pup
but Roger put his foot down and wasn’t giving up.
Those parts–how they twinkled! The molding, how merry!
The machine was a beauty, but still kind of scary.
Its droll little mouth spittled plastic everywhere.
Rog knew if he let it in everyone would just stare.
And yet… it looked pretty cute sitting there.
Maybe just maybe he could find room to spare…
And just when he thought, Well we COULD make this work
the machine leapt in the air with a twerk & a jerk.
As he watched it fly over the rooftop again,
Roger felt something move in the palm of his hand.
He opened his fist and looked down at the toy
that 3D had made for him (what a good boy).
He held it up close and saw, perfect to scale,
A miniature Santa in exquisite detail.
It was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf
and Rog laughed when he saw it, in spite of himself.
It motioned and gestured jovially, come here,
So Roger held mini Santa up to his ear,
And he heard it squeak out, as 3D flew out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”