Christmas cheer: Inspired by Sasha Volokh, who translated “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” into Latin (as well as rewriting it in Catullan hendecasyllables), I decided to attempt the following as my ninth Shakespearean sonnet:

No. 9. “Ode to Rudolph”

I sing of RUDOLPH, antler’d, red-nosèd,

   Most fearless Rangifer, who serv’d as guide

   To sainted NICHOLAS, of bearded head,

   Throughout a foggy globe-encircling ride.

A new DIOGENES, both beast and god,

   An outcast from his fellow caribou;

   No mind paid he to the mean ground he trod–

   No games played he, but rather did pursue

A harder path, through cloud-encrusted night.

   For who, so burdened with a load of toys,

   Could hope, without the benefit of light,

   To cheer the well-behavèd girls and boys?

Fair CLIO, Muse, in poetry and prose,

Sing of RUDOLPH, of luminescent nose.

UPDATE: Old English joins the list.