The Giant Who Stole the Sea

One morning, when the sun came up, The sea was nowhere near. The boats sat crooked in the sand. The fish had disappeared. The lighthouse stood upon the rocks, Its lamp still shining bright. The keeper scratched his woolly head. "The sea was here last night!" The seagulls gathered on the shore And squawked in great surprise. A sailor searched beneath his hat And rubbed his sleepy eyes. "Who took the sea?" the children cried. "Who carried it away? And where shall all the dolphins swim? And where shall mermaids play?" Now Nell was only eight years old, But clever as could be. She put some biscuits in her bag And went to find the sea. She walked across the sandy floor Where ships had sailed before. She found a chest of silver coins, A bell, and half an oar. She found a crab beneath a rock Who wore a sailor's hat. "Excuse me, sir," she politely said, "Who gave you that?" "My grandfather," the crab replied. "He sailed the seven seas. And if you're going on a quest, Do take me with you, please." So off they went across the sand, Past shells and coral red, Until they reached a mountain tall With clouds around its head. And from the mountain came a sound, A most peculiar roar. It sounded like a hundred waves All crashing on the shore. They climbed a hundred rocky steps, Then fifty, maybe more, Until they found a giant house With an enormous door. Nell knocked upon the wooden gate. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! "Who's there?" a mighty voice called out. "It's Nell! Please make some room!" The door swung wide. A giant stood With slippers on his feet. His beard was full of breadcrumbs, And his breath was rather sweet. "Good morning, little visitors! Would you like a cup of tea? I've biscuits, buns, and apple pie, And something you must see!" He led them through his giant house, Past tables, lamps, and chairs, Past boots as big as fishing boats And seventeen flights of stairs. And there, inside his bathroom, As blue as blue could be, Was one enormous bathtub With the whole entire sea! The whales were swimming round the taps. The sharks were by the drain. The jellyfish were floating past A little windowpane. The dolphins leapt above the foam. The turtles swam below. A hundred ships went sailing past The giant's rubber toe. "You stole the sea!" cried little Nell. "You've taken every drop! The fishermen can't catch their fish. The sailing boats have stopped!" The giant sat upon a stool And hung his head in shame. "I didn't mean to cause a fuss. I thought it was a game. "I've never seen the ocean, Though I've wished to all my days. I wanted waves to splash my feet And watch the dolphins play. "But now the bath is much too full. The whales won't let me wash. A swordfish ate my toothbrush, And the octopus ate my squash!" Nell tried her best to hide a laugh. The crab fell on his back. A starfish waved from by the soap. A seal gave out a bark. "Well, Giant," Nell said, "here's the thing. The sea can't stay with you. The crabs must have their sandy homes. The fish need oceans blue. "The ships must sail, the waves must roll, The tides must come and go. And every little seaside child Must have a place to row." The giant thought. He scratched his chin. He gave a mighty sigh. Then from his pocket took a cloth And wiped his giant eye. "You're right," he said. "I'll take it back. I'll put it where it was. But could I keep a little bit, Just for myself? Because..." Nell smiled and held her bucket up. "Of course! A little sea. But promise not to take it all." "I promise!" answered he. He lifted up his giant bath And carried it outside. He crossed the hills, he crossed the fields, With Nell upon his side. He reached the shore by afternoon. The town was gathered there. The mayor dropped his telescope. The baker dropped a pear. "Stand back!" the giant thundered. "Make room! And mind your feet!" He tipped the bathtub upside down And poured the sea complete. The waves came rushing down the shore. The fishing boats rose high. The dolphins leapt, the seagulls cheered, The whales blew fountains to the sky. The lighthouse keeper rang his bell. The harbour filled with foam. The ships all sailed across the blue, And every fish went home. They cheered for Nell, they cheered for Crab, They cheered the giant too. He bowed so low his whiskers dipped Into the waters blue. And every summer after that, When skies were bright and clear, The giant came to visit Nell And brought his swimming gear. He splashed about beyond the rocks, Where all the great whales played. He built enormous castles With the sand beneath his spade. And if you ever go to sea And see a wave rise high, Or find a giant footprint Where the sandy beaches lie, Don't run away. Don't be afraid. Just wave across the foam. It might be Nell's old giant friend, Who came to swim from home. And if you hear a mighty sneeze That shakes the whole blue sea, You'll know he's got some salty water Up his nose again. ACHOO-EE!