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

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

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.