At the ocean’s edge

Where the sands parted

Lived a young maiden

Lithe but heavy hearted

Her needs simple

Her wishes true

She pined for a love

Whose eyes were bright blue

For many nights

She prayed alone

Hoping for a man

To become her own

One day she saw

A fisherman come

She could sense his soul

She could hear him hum

She wanted more

To see his eyes

Were they full of love

And blue as the skies?

She went to him

But he was gone

No fishing pole left

Just the fading dawn

Then he returned

At day’s first light

Standing on the shore

Tall and thin and white

Then he went off

Like a candle

Blown into the winds

Soft as a dandel’

Where did he go

So swift and sweet?

Was he a merman

With webs on his feet?

The maid was ired

She had to know

Who was this devil

That thwarted her so?

One dark morning

She crept to the sea

Hoping to catch him

Before he fled free

The sun rose fast

The fisherman too

Like a ghost he rose

From the ocean blue!

“Hello, my child.

I said I’d return.

But my ship was lost.

Below the waves I churn.”

She saw his eyes

Blue like twilight

It was her father

Long lost but eyes bright

Dawn became day

Again he drifted down

Delivered by mist

Back to where he drowned

Lost in the fog

Alone in the deep

Bound by a promise

That he couldn’t keep