Miriam Fraser

The fisherman's bride

each night he returns to a lonely abode
his heart heavy, like his haul
bereft of a lover's welcome home
his soul grows dark and cold
 
so tonight he tarries by the sea
his gaze to the moonlit tide
where diving and breaching, wild and free
he sees the Selkies ride
 
when mother moon is round and full
the seal folk are drawn to the coves
the spirit within them feels her pull
and they shrug off their velvety clothes
 
revealed inside is a womanly guise
and they joyfully dance and leap
each beauty sings of their love of life
so the man yearns to have one to keep
 
he steals a lustrous Selkie coat
and the sea sisters all scream no!
for exposed and trapped in human form
he can gently lead one home
 
he promises to love her and keep her with pride
she's his darling, his angel, his queen
so although her eyes are open wide
she sleepwalks into his dream
 
but soon she's bound by domestic threads
and netted by duties of home
so daily the light fades from her face
and the fire in her soul burns low
 
yet each moon-tide draws at the beast within
and she longs to be chasing the boats
she pines for her long-lost Selkie skin
as she repairs her fisherman's coat
 
she opens the seam where the lining is torn
and uncovers a secret inside -
while she's at home he keeps himself warm
by wearing her stolen hide!
 
she sews it back in with heavy heart
as the time is not ripe for escape
the moon is yet new and the nights are dark
so she broods on her fate     and she waits 

Miriam Fraser, from Leicestershire, U.K., is a former museum educator involved in storytelling and in leading time traveling experiences. Through this she developed a love and respect for Celtic folklore and living history re-enactment, which became the subject of her Masters dissertation. She has always enjoyed writing but only started submitting work post-COVID, and has had two short stories and one poem published. She is also an artist and is working on an illustrated book of poetry for children.