Once upon a Montipora…
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the aquarium.
Not a fishie was stirring, not even Z. veliferum
The socks were all hung by the reefer with care,
In hopes that Poseidon soon would be there.
The clownfish were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of brine shrimp danced in their heads.
And Dori in her cave, and I in my cap,
Had just slowed our gills for a long water’s nap.
When out from the pumps there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the monti to see what was the matter.
Away to the front glass I flew like a wrasse.
Knocked down some frags and stirred up some gas.
The moonlights on the crest of the surface you know
Gave the lustre of mid-day to the coral below.
When, what to my wondering fish eyes should I find
But a water sleigh, and eight wrasses, Six-Line.
With a watery driver, so lively and satin,
I knew in a moment it must be Poseidon!
More rapid than sailfish his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
“Now Deb! now, Jacques! now, Bubbles and Bloat!
On, Anchor! On, Chum! On Peaches and Bruce!
O’er the top of the rock! to the top of the flow!
Now splash away! splash away! splash away yo!”
As dry nori before the wild hurricanes fly,
When they meet with a wave, mount to the sky.
So up through the tank the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Mysis and Poseidon, too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard in the din,
The swishing and stirring of each little fin.
As I tilted my head, and was turning around,
Through powerhead current Poseidon came down.
He was dressed all in scales, from his head to his tail,
And his big brother Neptune was there as well
A bundle of Rod’s they had flung on their backs,
And they looked just like reefers, just opening their snacks.
Our eyes-how they twinkled! Our pectorals how merry!
Our dorsals all quivered, our gills like a cherry!
Our droll little mouths drawn up like a bow,
In anticipation of the goodies soon to flow.
Poseidon spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the socks, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his watery finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the water column he rose!
He dove to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all swam like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, as he surfed out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”
