Mermaid's Christmas

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