The Mermaid

Source: Stephen Southwold, Dreams of Childhood. The English Review July 1913, p. 512-513.

One day upon the golden sands,

Beneath the shining summer sun,

I lay and idly watched the waves,

Tired out with all my noisy fun.

I heard the little wavelets plash

And murmur on the pebbled shore;

The great sea sang to me

As it had never sang before.

I watched the crested wavetops break,

And sparkle like new-fallen snow;

I wondered if I plunged within

What I should find down there below.

Now, as I lay, a stronger wave

Cast at my feet a mighty shell

And from within I heard a sound

Of laughter like a silver bell.

The great shell opened, and I saw

With wonder, yet half-fearfully,

New-come from out her sea-lapped cave,

A lovely mermaid watching me.

Her hair was golden like ripe corn,

Her arms were soft and pearly white;

The scales upon her silvered tail

Sparkled like polished armour bright.

Her brow was crowned with sea-green weeds,

Sea-blossoms peeped out from her hair;

Long ropes of pearl were round her waist;

And oh! her face was young and fair.

She held her white arms out and smiled

Then whispered, “Come and live with me.”

But I awoke and found myself

Alone beside the summer sea.

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