Before returning to my visits to the Christmas markets of 2017, I would like to tie this holiday genre with the Christmas market tour, for it has to do with shopping and finding things for friends and family-
or in this case, family and extended family. 😉
When this poem was written by Stella Mead in 1934, it appeared in the comic strips before becoming part of a treasury of Christmas Stories which Ann McGovern put together in 1942. And while the character was indeed an eight-armed underwater beast, the thought of buying the right gift at the right place at the Christmas Fair still comes true today.
And so, Lord Octopus Went to the Christmas Fair just like the author went to the Christmas market for shopping and food. Enjoy! 🙂
Lord Octopus went to the Christmas Fair;
An hour and a half he was traveling there.
Then he had to climb
For a weary time
To the slimy block
Of a sandstone rock,
And creep, creep away
To the big wide bay
Where a stout old whale
Held his Christmas sale.
Lord Octopus went to the Christmas Fair;
An hour and a half he was traveling there.
His two little girls and two little boys
Were waiting at home for their Christmas toys;
And dear old Granny,
And fat Aunt Fanny,
And Cousin Dolly,
And Sister Molly
Would think Lord Octopus quite unpleasant
Unless he brought them a Christmas present.
Lord Octopus went to the Christmas Fair;
An hour and a half he was traveling there.
He purchased two hoops for the little boys.
He purchased two rings for the girls as toys.
He bought for Granny
A sweet nightcap,
To please Aunt Fanny
A game of snap;
For cousin Dolly
A winter wrap,
For Sister Molly
A sea-route map.
With hoops for the boys, for the girls round rings,
The wrap, and the rest of the Christmas things,
Tied up into parcels and packets strong,
Lord Octopus merrily went along.
On every arm he hung a present,
And said, “It’s really rather pleasant
To have eight arms instead of two.
What can those human creatures do
With just two arms for all the toys
They have to buy their girls and boys?”
Source: McGovern, Ann (Ed.) Treasury of Christmas Stories New York: Scholastic Book Services, 1960.
