deepundergroundpoetry.com
A Saelkie Tale
Drifting out on wind and wave
From the saltine sea to the darkest deep
I saw her rise from an angel grave
Emerged from the deepest Saelkie sleep
When her seal skin shed on the sandy floor
Twas a fiery auburn maiden freed
Her heart was unlocked through an open door
And bound in matrimonial deed
He sought to steal her oily skin
Transforming her to human kind
Then fire and prophecy within
Saw marriage forced by legend’s bind
With her spirit trapped, she could not flee
Away from Celtic mountain lands
Nor earthly pleasures loosely freed
Ensnared inside her lovers hands
My Saelkie pleas to free her soul
From seaweed spirits torn to shreds
The sea wakes up when the bell doth toll
Reclaiming her skin from earth to thread
From the saltine sea to the darkest deep
I saw her rise from an angel grave
Emerged from the deepest Saelkie sleep
When her seal skin shed on the sandy floor
Twas a fiery auburn maiden freed
Her heart was unlocked through an open door
And bound in matrimonial deed
He sought to steal her oily skin
Transforming her to human kind
Then fire and prophecy within
Saw marriage forced by legend’s bind
With her spirit trapped, she could not flee
Away from Celtic mountain lands
Nor earthly pleasures loosely freed
Ensnared inside her lovers hands
My Saelkie pleas to free her soul
From seaweed spirits torn to shreds
The sea wakes up when the bell doth toll
Reclaiming her skin from earth to thread
Published 14th Apr 2023
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Anonymous
14th Apr 2023 12:11pm
I absolutely adore Selkie lore. I think what appeals to me in general about folklore is how we can use these beings and stories as metaphors toward our own life.
Really enjoyed this, and wonderfully put.
-M
Really enjoyed this, and wonderfully put.
-M
15th Apr 2023 6:14pm
I really like what NS said, I often utilize mythology in that vein. Your writing is ludic and eloquent, with a soulful vibration in the unfolding.
29th Mar 2024 12:02pm
This poem beautifully weaves together elements of folklore and legend, painting a vivid picture of a Saelkie's struggle between her natural sea-bound existence and the earthly bonds of love and marriage. The imagery of the sea, the seal skin, and the Celtic landscape creates a rich atmosphere that immerses the reader in the mystical world of the Saelkie.
The conflict between the Saelkie's desire for freedom and her entrapment within human society is palpable throughout the poem, adding depth to the emotional resonance of her plight. The use of language, particularly in phrases like "fire and prophecy within" and "seaweed spirits torn to shreds," imbues the poem with a sense of both urgency and mysticism.
Overall, this poem captures the essence of a timeless tale, exploring themes of love, sacrifice, and the struggle for identity. It invites the reader to ponder the complexities of human relationships and the eternal pull of the sea.
The conflict between the Saelkie's desire for freedom and her entrapment within human society is palpable throughout the poem, adding depth to the emotional resonance of her plight. The use of language, particularly in phrases like "fire and prophecy within" and "seaweed spirits torn to shreds," imbues the poem with a sense of both urgency and mysticism.
Overall, this poem captures the essence of a timeless tale, exploring themes of love, sacrifice, and the struggle for identity. It invites the reader to ponder the complexities of human relationships and the eternal pull of the sea.
