An Ocracat in a fig tree, by Pat Garber, after an illustration in her new children’s fiction book, “Little Matey,” about a black kitten on Blackbeard’s boat.

The Ocracoke Observer offers a bit of silliness for the holiday season, with our version of a classic holiday song (sung to the tune of “The Twelve Days of Christmas”).

By Rita Thiel and Connie Leinbach. Illustration by Pat Garber

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
An Ocracat in a fig tree                                            

On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
Two Scotch bonnets    

On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
Three new skiffs                                                     

On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
Four laughing gulls                                                                                         

On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
Five golden hooks                                                     

On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
Six  homemade fig cakes                                    

On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
Seven ghost crabs digging                          

On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
Eight thousand cormorants

On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
Nine Dolphins winning                                         

On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
Ten surfers surfing                                            

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
Eleven shellers shelling                                          

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
Twelve clammers clamming