31 December 2003 - the day before 2004

’Twas the day before 2004, and all through the universe
Not a speechmaker was stirring, for fear it was bad-to-worse.
The earthquake victims were nestled all snug in their former homes,
And the cows and Israelis were mad from lack of shalom.
Then just at the midnight there arose such a clamor,
I reached from my bed and nailed down my pillow with a hammer.
But at morning to the wondering world there appeared
A pretty sunrise and a whole brand new year.