‘Otto and Octavius at Christmas’: A Children’s Poem by Mary Gardner

Otto and Octavius at Christmas

Mother and Father Octopus,
And Otto and Octavius,
A cephalopodic family,
Live in the Sargasso Sea.
It’s an ordinary place
With a routine, steady pace.

Dad said, when came winter break,
“A vacation we should take!
It would be a doldrum-cure.
I looked into a brochure
Of some spots, and have the notion
To see the Pacific Ocean.

“Cross a thirty-two-mile band
Of the Panamanian land.
Once you’re over that divide
Pacific’s on the other side!”

So they packed up what they needed
And southwesterly proceeded.
Twelve a.m. the four arrived,
All refreshed and all revived.
Stars and Milky Way up high
Twinkled in an ink-black sky.
Octavius and Otto, under
The expanse, felt awe and wonder.

Also up above the four
Flew a sleigh whose cargo bore
All the gifts you could envision
On its yearly Yuletide mission.
Brimming high the toys were piled.
Santa’s elf was steering wild.

Candy canes and mincemeat pie
Had him on a sugar high.
Over-cookied and -eggnoged,
With his judgment all befogged,
“Woo!” he yelled. “Let’s go from zero
To light-speed! I’m such a hero!
Santa, hold on to your beard!”
Much too sharp the reindeer veered.
Centrifugally the toys ejected.
(Not entirely unexpected.)

Mom clucked, “Looks like that elf eats
Far too many sweets and treats!”

How could anyone corral
All the toys from the canal
With its hundred-foot-wide locks
And no one on the loading docks!
Seeing this, our good Saint Nick
Retook charge—and did it quick.

“Rudolph! Comet! Shine a light,
Find the toys on this dark night.
Cupid! Donner! Blitz! Put back
All the stuff once in the sack.
Dasher! Dancer! Prancer! Vixen!
Take the broken ones and fix ‘em.
Elf, pitch in and help them, too,
And no more sugarplums for you!”

Then what does Santa Claus espy
From the corner of his eye,
But octo-arms a-waving high!
It’s Otto and Octavius!
“Santa, you can count on us!
We will get the toys amassed!”
Sixteen arms did gather fast.
Sixteen tentacles did pull,
Lift, and load the carriage full,
And once they got the gifts on board,
Tied them down with kelpic cord.

“Thank you, Boys,” pleased Santa said,
“And now, before you go to bed,
Otto and Octavius,
Here are games from all of us.
Hope you folks have a terrific
Holiday in the Pacific.”
“Thanks, Saint Nick! And you have fun
On your annual Christmas run!”

Santa got back in his sleigh.
Magically it flew away,
And as it did, they heard him call,
“Peace on Earth and joy to all!”

Now from the Panamanian Isthmus
We wish you a Merry Christmas.
May the message of this night
Fill your heart with hope and light.

Love, Mom and Daddy Octopus,
And Otto and Octavius.

Mary Gardner is a poet living in Florida.