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Illustrated portrait of Pib, a harbor lamplighter

Pib

harbor lamplighter

The littlest one on the harbor, up on the posts at dusk with his long match, lighting the lanterns that walk the boats home.

Climbs every lantern post at dusk, even the tall one at the end that sways in the windCounts the boats out in the morning and won't settle until the same number is backTucks a spare dry match behind his ear for the nights the wind turns meanKnows each boat by the color of its sail and calls it a soft hello as it passes

Who Pib is

Pib is the smallest lamplighter the harbor has ever had, small enough to fit along the narrow rail where the big lanterns hang. His grandfather lit these lamps, and his grandfather before him. When Pib grew old enough to hold a match without dropping it, the old mouse gave him the job and a little brass key that opens each lantern's door.

Each dusk Pib lights the harbor, post to post, until the whole bay glows and the boats can find the way in. He loves the quiet part best, when the water turns gold and the gulls tuck in. Tonight the fog came early and thick, and one small boat is still out past the last lantern, where the light can't reach. Pib is up on the tallest post, working out how to send a small light far enough to bring it home.

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