I'm James Navé with The Imaginative Storm Writing Project. Today, I’m delighted to perform “A Visit from St. Nicholas” by Clement Clarke Moore—more commonly known as 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. Moore (1779–1863) was a writer, scholar, and professor of Oriental and Greek literature, as well as a philanthropist and land developer. His poem is widely credited with shaping American Christmas traditions. 



Does Santa look like this?

"He had a broad face and a little round belly 
That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly. 
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, 
 And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself."

One of my fondest memories of this poem is watching poet Allan Wolf, during the Asheville Poetry Slam in December 1992, wrap himself in flashing Christmas lights and spin wildly while performing it. 

One of my fondest memories of this poem is watching poet Allan Wolf, during the Asheville Poetry Slam in December 1992, wrap himself in flashing Christmas lights and spin wildly while performing it. 

Though I’ve never donned Christmas lights myself, I’ve always loved how the poem’s rhyming narrative bounces along. Some performers punch the rhymes, but I prefer understating them and letting the story carry you through. Enjoy!

A Visit From Saint Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore performed by James Navé

Provocative Conversations from Twice 5 Miles Radio is a podcast devoted to candid, often surprising exchanges with artists, thinkers, and cultural instigators who speak from the core. Each episode dives beneath the surface to explore the stories and questions that shape our lives.

I’m James Navé—poet, storyteller, educator, and longtime creative collaborator. With an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and decades of teaching experience across the globe, I help writers and performers tap into their authentic voices through public speaking, creative writing, and the Imaginative Storm method, which I co-developed with Allegra Huston.

My most recent book, 100 Days: A Poetic Memoir After Cancer (3: A Taos Press), documents a hundred days of healing and poetic reckoning. I’m also co-author of Write What You Don’t Know and How to Read for an Audience—practical guides for anyone seeking to speak and write with more truth and power.

I’ve directed festivals, hosted literary salons, taught with Julia Cameron, and memorized over 600 poems. I still believe in the power of a well-told story, the light through stained glass, and the open road with nothing but a podcast and a windshield full of stars.

A Visit From Saint Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore performed by James Navé

Twice Five Miles