Selkie's Song

[Spear_Sister]

Selkie’s Song

On cold and desolate rocks, perched
In the far Celtic seas, Selkie’s song rose –
So hauntingly deep; Lamenting –
A once-human form, and the
Rusted Faithful Age,
Of a dead mythology

A scarred and salted pain, seeped
And echoed into every note –
Melodiously heralded
Across a dying and wasted Earth
Crossing glen, and loch, and sea…

Conjuring trapped spirits, jolted
From long-suffering nightmares, to
Traverse the skies like some
Ethereal glorious aurora

Old stone gods, overgrown in
Bracken and vine, opened
Concrete eyes – and wept –
For the first time in a thousand years

Druids, bereft of sickle and sandal,
Emerged from fossilized evergreen shades,
Adorned in Forgotten Ways of
Herb, potion and poultice,
Awakened by an ancient serenade

The Old World drew New Breath as
Forgotten myth awoke with such
Staggering intent, mere mortals
Shivered as they ignorantly slept…

Selkie sang, and the spirit of
Lonely fishermen, broke – tumbling,
Into the crashing waves of an angry tide,
Mourning and grieving, the loss –
Of a magic they could not recollect…

But with Selkie’s last breath,
Went all life of the Fae, until
The heart of a dead and wasted Earth
Was kindled, to beat again,
Another day.

[Jerryk]

Hi there, Spear_Sister;
your poem is gorgeous. I'm fairly familiar with the world's mythology, the legends of Scotland, Ireland, Iceland, etc.. Ah, the Selkies (spelling may differ): they are said to live as seals in the sea but shed their skin to become humans while on land. In Germanic fairy tales one encounters the Undine, a water nymph who becomes human; and then there are various other water spirits and mermaids. Wonderful stuff. However, you give the subject that enchanting spin of a great storyteller; reading your poem is a pleasure. Much enjoyed,
Jerry

[everhopeful]

It's not just a classical fantasy theme here, the diction of the poem seems to have a very classical slant to it, one of great wonder written with a storytelling frame of narrative which seems to bring the myths of old back to the modern day, if only for a moment. It ends with a sense of tragedy, as though the loss of the myths of the old went hand in hand with modernisation and it's tendency to take out anything which stands in the way of 'progress'.
Nice work.

[Chelle]

there is myth and there is legend and you weave the two together effortlessly. I love the mention of the druids and the old religion as well as the selkie which is an interesting creature created by the celts for sure. :) this particular poem seems to give them more power, almost imbuing it with a siren like persuasive power.

[QuietAstronomer]

And as the Fey and the Goddess go, so goes Mother Earth.
This piece was full of vibrancy and intent.
And yet, the Goddess and the Stag walk into the mists and we are all forsaken.
Well compiled.

QA

[SirWilliamDavis]

Beautiful, well-composed, classic folklorish storytelling.

This work feels timeless, evokes mythical realms, and stirs up raw legend from overlooked, and rugged, Celtic seas and landscapes ... what more could one want from an epic fantasy poem?

[DreamerSeeker]

Beautifully written poem, keep on writing! :)

[up2quark]

Beautiful, the memory of what was past was brought forth in the end, it was like the whole poem was the message and his heart was closed, than opened by dying to the fae. Love it!

[rupertpupkin]

Lovely write. Well done on the spotlight