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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE MERMAID (1), by                    
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'.








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