Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the sea,
Not a creature was stirring, not even an anemone.
The dolphins were leaping up high in the air,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would dive there.
The shellfish were tucked away in the rocks,
While lobsters and octopus danced near the docks.
Sea otters wrapped up in the kelp nice and tight,
Had just settled in for a long winter's night.
When up on the surface there was such a clatter,
A seal pup perked up to check on the matter.
Up towards the surface she swam very fast,
Gasping for air, a big breath now at last.
The moon and the stars shone bright in the sky,
And lit up the water so nothing slipped by.
When what to the seal's surprise should be seen,
But a wet SCUBA diver and eight turtles green.
With a red drysuit on and a beard full and white,
Seal knew in a moment St. Nick came tonight.
Kicking hard first, then gliding, now swimming with speed,
St. Nick and the turtles were taking the lead.
"Now Leatherback! Now Loggerhead! Now, Kemp's Ridley, too!
On Hawksbill! On Green! Olive Ridley, yes you!"
To the top of the reef in all its great hue,
To the depth of the sea they all swam on cue.
Wherever they swam, St. Nick and his team,
Were greeted by clownfish as if in a dream.
St. Nick and the turtles, they pulled such a sleigh,
Filled with seaweed and big shells to give away.
And then all at once the seal heard again,
The splishing and splashing of each little fin.
She dove underwater to get a good view,
And then came St. Nick right out of the blue.
He was wearing a mask, stuck right to his face,
And his snorkel and flippers were there right in place.
A big rounded belly, he sure was not slim,
He looked like a whale, learning to swim.
He spoke not a word but got to his work fast,
And dug in his pack that was ever so vast.
He greeted each creature with love and with glee,
The seal pup was given not one fish but three!
The humpbacks were given a big herring meal,
While right whales were given some krill, what a deal!
The otters woke up from their nap and did find,
They were given sea urchins, so many, every kind!
St. Nick did remember all creatures big and small,
He had gifts for the sharks, they had such a ball!
The tiniest crabs were included in the mix,
The hermits were left with a new home to fix.
Last but not least, for the dolphins he had,
Something special for them, boy were they glad!
Out from his pack came schooling fish, what a sight,
The dolphins they whistled they rolled in delight!
And then he was done, he had given every gift,
He began to ascend, turtles stroking so swift.
The seal watched in awe, and heard him recite
"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Blue Night!"
— Adapted from the poem, "Twas the Night Before Christmas", by Clemente Clark Moor.
Heidi Pearson is assistant director and stranding coordinator with The Whale Center of New England, based at Harbor Loop in Gloucester. Her column, "Our Blue World" appears regularly on the Haelth/Science page in Friday editions of the Times. She can be reached via phone at 978-515-5001, fax at 978-281-5666, or via e-mail at heidi@whalecenter.org. The Whale Center's stranding hotline: 978-281-6351
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