Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE MERMAID (1), by ANONYMOUS First Line: "to yon fause stream that, by the sea" Last Line: Ere lang the waves war foamin' Subject(s): Mermaids & Mermen | ||||||||
To yon fause stream that, by the sea, Hides mony an elf and plum, And rives wi' fearful din the stanes, A witless knicht did come. The day shines clear. Far in he's gane, Whar shells are silver bright; Fishes war loupin' a' aroun' An' sparklin' to the light. When, as he laved, sounds came sae sweet Frae ilka rock ajee; The brief was out; 'twas him it doomed The mermaid's face to see. Frae 'neath a rock sune, sune she rose, An' stately on she swam, Stopped i' the midst, and becked and sang For him to stretch his han'; Gowden glist the yellow links That roun' her neck she'd twine; Her een war o' the skyie blue, Her lips did mock the wine. The smile upon her bonnie cheek Was sweeter than the bee; Her voice excelled the birdie's sang Upon the birchen tree. Sae couthie, couthie did she look, And meikle had she fleeched; Out shot his hand -- alas! alas! Fast in the swirl he screeched. The mermaid leuched; her brief was dane; The kelpie's blast was blawin': Fu' low she dived, ne'er cam' again; For deep, deep was the fawin'. Aboon the stream his wraith was see: Warlocks tirled lang at gloamin': That e'en was coarse; the blast blew hoarse Ere lang the waves war foamin'. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE FORSAKEN MERMAN by MATTHEW ARNOLD THE FISHER by JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE THE MERMAID by ALFRED TENNYSON THE SEA DREAM by WILLIAM ROSE BENET TIS A LITTLE JOURNEY by ANONYMOUS |
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