Seaweed Fair

Once there was a Seaweed Fair,
'Twas held in Ocean Town.
It drew the tuna, octopus and shrimp
From all the waters 'round.

Schools of fishes all let out
To celebrate the Fair.
Old Mickey Mack, the mackerel
Was the very first one there!

His godfather, Basil Bass,
Had told him, years before
About the Fair at Sandy Bay
Back in Nineteen-twenty-four.

Collin Cod and Suzie Snail
Were strolling arm in arm,
Admiring all the vegetables
From her Dad's down-ocean farm.

Sammy Squid and Tillie Trout
Had a bout the night before.
So Tillie was out, trouting about
With Alive J. Albacore.

Stan and Dan, the Swordfish twins,
Had an exhibition match:
But they were so equal-skilled,
Judges called the match a scratch!

Freddie Flounder stumbled up
To claim a hundred-minnow prize.
He'd knocked out Champion Tiger Shark
With one fin between the eyes!

Sturgeon B. Sturgeon, Mayor of Kelp,
Came to give the opening speech.
Congressman Bream gave the First Prize
To Pete Pike for his undersea peach.

Millie O'Marlin won a gold cup
From the Women's Pavillion of Food.
Her Seaweed Cake, frosted with foam
Was oh, so delightfully good!

Oscar Octopus brought his family along
And they played in the Carnival Band.
Later they strolled to see all the sights
Hand in hand, hand in hand, hand in hand.

Chester Conch and Carlos Codfish the Third
Both rode in the afternoon race.
Carlos' seahorse won the lap by a nose
But Chester....came in in last place.

Doctor Hank Herring crowned the Queen of the Fair
With a crown made of sea-jade and pearls.
The judges agreed that Merry Mermaid
Was the cutest of John Mermaid's girls!

With fresh-water taffy in cold little fins,
And a tiredness that went way down deep,
Fish families swam slowly home....
To re-live Seaweed Fair in their sleep.

February 1972
Copyright PG