‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the zoo,
Lots of creatures were stirring. Especially two.
Fiona had heard kids tell stories that day.
She had questions about Santa and some kind of sleigh.
So Bibi replied, in her motherly way, “Don’t sweat it. Calm down, and just eat your hay.”
But Fiona was curious. She wanted to know:
What’s the talk about fat guys flying through snow?
Bibi tried to explain about Santa and toys,
Delivering goodies to good girls and boys.
“Will I get gifts? I have been so good this year!”
Fiona asked questions her hippo mom feared.
“Look, you already got stuff -- a book and a song.
You can’t play an X-Box. You would not like a gong.”
Bibi had answers her girl didn’t like.
“What about candy?” Fi said. “Or a bike?”
Bibi said, “Baby, you’re a big super star.
“What’s Jay Z get Beyoncé? A boat or a car?”
That made sense to Fiona. She did not need a thing.
She had food and her mom -- and that guy’s diamond ring.
Remember when Fiona photobombed this guy's proposal?
“The joy is in giving,” Bibi told her sweet girl.
“And just think of the joy you have given the world.”
So Fiona stopped wishing for gifts from above,
And stayed focused on giving her hippo-sized love.
She’s this year's greatest gift at the Cincinnati Zoo,
Even if sometimes she likes to eat poo.
Lucy May writes about the people, places and issues that define our region – to celebrate what makes the Tri-State great and shine a spotlight on issues we need to address. She is the author of My Best Friend Fiona and has been a Fiona fanatic since the little hippo was born. To read more stories by Lucy, go to www.wcpo.com/may. To reach her, email lucy.may@wcpo.com. Follow her on Twitter @LucyMayCincy.
