Image courtesy of Carolyn Emerick from Wikimedia Commons

The seal people – the Selkies, have been long in the mythic history of the people living along the Celtic coasts. They are magical beings capable of changing from seal to human form by shedding t


The Selkie

When Duncan cut a seal with his knife
out sprang a girl that he took for a wife,
and though they lived he thought happily
he often caught her looking – out to sea.

Time passed and she was with his child,
so, he kept her secure under lock and key
less she returned back again to the wild,
but still she kept on looking – out to sea.

When her time came she was not to be found,
for she had heard the seal-people calling.
He followed her footprints down to the sound,
where he stood searching – far out to sea.

There he saw a group of seals gathered
around a young female with her pup,
who before leaving turned to look
back at him – fully in his face.

Long after he wandered his lonely shore,
the memory of her his only grace,
mourning his lost love, now never more,
while his pride kept him – in that place.

Until years later now old and frail,
his gaze went out to where he thought
she had returned coming – back to him;
so, he stripped – and set out to swim.


© D G Moody 2022






Poetry by D G Moody
Read 195 times
Written on 2022-05-17 at 19:01

Tags Male  Female  Myth 

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Griffonner The PoetBay support member heart!
This reminds me of a book I once read. In the end the mermaid will always be drawn back to the sea - it is the only ending that would allow the story to be creditable. You've told the tale well, Dougie. :)
2022-05-17


Alan J Ripley The PoetBay support member heart!
I love the fantasy of this as well as the first two lines.
Reminded me of another story, The red turtle.
Thanks for sharing.
2022-05-17