’Twas the Night Before Reefmas

’Twas the night before Reefmas, when all through the reef,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a reef-beef.
The kelp-pine was braided with sea-glass with care,
In hopes that the Star soon would glitter up there.

The guppies were nestled, all snug in their beds,
While visions of shell-bells danced ‘round in their heads.
And Briny with her fussing, and I with my hat,
Had just settled our currents for Reefmas-night chat.

When out by the mangroves there rose such a splash,
I sprang from my coral to see what was ash.
Away to the tide-edge I swam like a dart,
Cane tucked under fin, and concern in my heart.

The moon on the surface made silver bright lace,
And painted pale shimmer on each root’s dark face.
When, what to my wondering monocle-eye should appear,
But a bottle that bobbed up, then vanished, then near.

With a note tucked inside, and a wax seal to boot,
I knew in a moment this wasn’t a hoot.
More rapid than mullet my thoughts all then came,
And I clicked my gold tooth, and I called them by name:

“Now Talli. Now Luma. Now Crumbles, come quick.
Now Pearlbit, brave pearl, with your shell-bell to pick.
To the edge of the root-maze. To the bend of the tide.
Now swim away, swim away, swim close to my side.”

As currents that swirl when a storm wants to play,
We slipped through the shadows and followed the way.
And then, in a hush that could swallow a sound,
My gold tooth lit up, like it’d found what it found.

We came to the wreck where the old timbers creak,
Where lost little treasures go hide-and-go-seek.
An octopus peered with a librarian stare,
As if filing our faces in saltwater air.

“You’re hunting a Star,” said the keeper, quite calm,
“And the Spiral Current’s got slippery charm.
It spun past my doorway, it glittered, it fled,
Now it’s wedged where the tidepools keep secrets instead.”

So onward we went, through the rock-shelf and foam,
Where tidepools make kingdoms from puddles of home.
A starfish cried, “Halt!” with a bossy small flair,
“You pass three small trials if you wish to go there.”

Crumbles held still while a wave slapped his shell,
I freed a shy snail from a seaweed-spun spell.
And Pearlbit, sweet brave one, with eyes bright as dawn,
Gave away her shell-bell so the small could hold on.

At last, in the seagrass where night-lanterns gleamed,
We found the Star turning like something half-dreamed.
It hung in clear thread, it looked tired and dim,
Like a wish that got tangled mid-swim, mid-swim.

Then Talli stood steady and Luma lit true,
And I coiled that fine thread like a sailor would do.
No yanking, no rushing, no snip-snap distress,
Just gentle, and patient, and careful finesse.

And when it was freed, how it rested in place,
Safe warm in my fins like a treasure with grace.
But still it was quiet, its glow only thin,
Like a song that was waiting for voices to begin.

So back to the reef where the kelp-pine stood tall,
We gathered our circle, both mighty and small.
Each shared a soft memory, close as a prayer,
And the Star gave a flicker, as if it heard there.

Then sunrise slid down with a ribbon of gold,
And the Sea-Glass Star brightened, and Reefmas took hold.
It bloomed like a lighthouse, warm, gentle, and sweet,
Till the whole reef felt merry from fin-tip to feet.

And I heard Pearlbit whisper, with wonder-filled morning:
“Reefmas shines best when no one’s left out of the story.”