Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Twas the Night Before Christmas - Hawaiian Monk Seal Style by Dana Jone

Hawaiian Monk Seal – ‘Twas the Night before Christmas

Ilio holo I Kau ua ua – Mele Kalikimaka


‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all thru the land
Not a monk seal was stirring, amidst the white sand
The molts were completed, they waited with care
In hopes that Mark or Tracy would bleach their new hair

The weaners were nestled all snug on the sand
While dreaming of tako, a slumber so grand
DB on the pier with his scope and his cap
Had just settled down to watch them all nap

When out on the ocean there arose such a clatter
He sprang from his chair to see what was the matter
Away to the railing he flew in a dash
Tore open the camera shutter, no time for a flash

The sun on the crest of incoming waves
Like a nautical lantern, what radiance it gave
When what to his wondering eyes should reveal
One outrigger canoe pulled by Hawaiian Monk seals

With a little ole paddler, so lively & quick
He knew in a moment it must be St. Nick
More rapid than dolphins his courses they came
And he whistled and shouted and called them by name

On Mojo, Duke, Benny & Chester
On Ewa Girl, Irma, Kea & Buster
To the top of the volcano to the top of the wall
Now swim away, swim away, swim away all

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky
So up to Nihoa, Kure & Midway they flew
With a sleigh full of herring a tako or two

And then, in a twinkling, I heard by the reef
I gasped and I sputtered in great disbelief
As I drew in my head and was turning around
St. Nicholas arose from the surf with a bound
  
He was dressed all in ti leaves from his head to his toes
And his tapas a mess from the long hard row
A bundle of fish he had slung on his back
And he looked like a Kahuna, just opening his pack

His eyes how they twinkled, his dimples how merry
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry
His Hawaiian smile was drawn up like a bow
And the beard on his chin as white as Mauna Kea’s snow

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his chore
Blessing the waters and monk seals on shore
And taking his fingers and pinching his nose
Back out in the surf and down under he dove

He sprang to his boat, to his team gave a whistle
And away they all flew, thru the reef like a missile
But I heard him exclaim, as they swam out of sight 2014
Mele Kalikimaka to all, and to all a good night.

Dana Jones

December 2009 - updated2014

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