Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE WRECKER'S DAUGHTER, by VICTOR GUSTAVE PLARR


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE WRECKER'S DAUGHTER, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Down beside carn barra bay
Last Line: Died meraud.
Subject(s): Death; Love; Obsessions; Dead, The


Down beside Carn Barra Bay,
Where the reefs are low and grey
Waits her father for the prey—
'Haste, Meraud!'

Where the sharp fanged rocks lie low,
Hiss the foam drifts white as snow
Round a ship in her last woe—
Oh Meraud!

'Mid the waters on the lee
Flashed a light—the foam flakes flee,
Whirled like lost souls o'er the sea,
Round Meraud.

Up and downward moved the light,
Beckoning now where sands gleam white—
Now upon Carn Barra height:—
'Well-done, Meraud!'

Broke the slow dawn, pale and grey,
Down beside Carn Barra Bay;
On the shore they sought the prey—
Not Meraud.

Something lay upon the sand;
Slow and weary down the strand,
The spent lantern in her hand,
Came Meraud.

And she saw the dead man lie,
With his still face to the sky;
And one bitter, piercing cry
Gave Meraud.

By his side her father knelt,
Searching vest and pouch and belt;
Pity she had never felt
Thrilled Meraud,

For the young face, once so fair,
With the curls of soft dark hair,
Bruised and marred, and past all care
Of Meraud.

On them all in their surprise
Flamed the light of wrathful eyes—
'You shall leave him where he lies!'
Cried Meraud.

And she kissed him as he lay,
Washed off the salt sand and spray;
So beside him all the day
Sat Meraud.

In her arms she held him still
Through the short day, dark and chill,
'Never more I'll do your will!'
Said Meraud.

Then they gave him Christian grace,
Bore him to the holy place,
Dumb for awe of that white face
Of Meraud.

When the sky the lightnings clave,
When the wildest storm winds drave,
On her face across the grave
Lay Meraud.

In the dawning wild and wan
They found her, when the year began ...
So for love of that dead man
Died Meraud.





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