The Sea Child

Into the world you sent her, mother, Fashioned her body of coral and foam, Combed a wave in her hair’s warm smother, And drove her away from home.

In the dark of the night she crept to the town And under a doorway she laid her down, The little blue child in the foam-fringed gown.

And never a sister and never a brother To hear her call, to answer her cry. Her face shone out from her hair’s warm smother Like a moonkin up in the sky.

She sold her corals; she sold her foam; Her rainbow heart like a singing shell Broke in her body: she crept back home.

Peace, go back to the world, my daughter, Daughter, go back to the darkling land; There is nothing here but sad sea water, And a handful of sifting sand.