MERMAIDS’ CHRISTMAS
(companion piece to “Telasta”)
The mermaids, too, have Christmas;
Now hear the story told
How on the ocean’s floor
They found a vein of purest gold.
They saw the star was shining bright
And knew the meaning, too.
They knew someone would need the gold,
But where, and when, and who?
The sea was silent on that night
As was the whole world o’er,
Except a king who gently cried
Upon that blissful shore.
He mourned; his birthday gift was lost --
A priceless gem adored.
The bag lay empty, and he had
No present for his Lord.
Now you may know that teardrops
Are distress calls to the sea,
Yet no one knows why mermaids come
In answer to that plea.
But come they will and come they did
To see what they could do
To hear this king and heal his heart
And help him start anew.
At first the king was fearful,
But he soon forgot his fright
As ocean’s long-haired angels
Soothed away his hurt that night.
They draped their hair around him
As they heard his story through,
And whispered to each other
What they all knew must be true.
These angels made him slumber
While the eldest of their band
Swam the distance to the treasure
They would trust into his hands.
They knew the sparkling gem was lost
As part of God’s own plan.
This gift must be one pure enough
For Deity-made-man.
Awake in early daylight,
Melchior thought once again
Of last night’s dream, and with new hope
He rose to go -- and then
He saw the bag was bulging,
So with trembling hand and cold
He opened it, and to the brim
‘Twas filled with sparkling gold!
The king met friends and kept the path
That led to Bethlehem.
That very night they met the Christ
And gave their gifts to Him.
Proud with their myrrh and frankincense
The other two were bold,
While tearful-eyed, with grateful heart,
Our king presented gold.
And so it is from then till now
That under the lights and string
You may open a gift from a regal friend
Fit only for a king.
Look very close upon the bow,
For something may be there
That speaks of mystic love for you --
A strand… of mermaid hair.
Copyright © 1980 Wilton Dupepe
