The Kelp Maid’s Song

I’m a little kelp maid. In kelp all arrayed. And once lived on the billowy wave Where from morning till night Through days long and bright I rode on the crest of the wave. The smooth rolling crest of the wave. On a kelp bed at night. In the soft moonlight. Sweet lullabies soothed me to sleep. And through nights beyond compare Mermaids combing silken hair Sang lullabies to sooth me to sleep, Tender lullabies to sooth me to sleep. But I yearned for the land With its shores of yellow sand With a restlessness born of the sea. As I watched the distant shore I longed to go there more and more With that restlessness born of the sea, That awful restlessness born of the sea. Till one momentous day A wave carried me away To the land where I had always longed to be To the strip of yellow sand On the border of the land The dry land where I’d always longed to be, The dry land where I’d always longed to be. But I am not happy yet. Now I long for the wet. For the soft soothing dampness of the waves. My gown once soft and fair to see Is now as dry as dry can be Which makes me sigh for the dampness of the waves, The soft soothing dampness of the waves. On a bit of kelp I stand Ever reaching out my hand Toward the kelp beds so far out at sea And for the mermaids’ song I listen all night long For the songs of the mermaids at sea. Round the kelp beds far out at sea. Though I am doom’d to stay On this dry land far away My heart ever turns toward the sea For my awful discontent My life in dryness must be spent While my heart ever turns toward the sea, Turns longingly out toward the sea.