The Mermaid of Zennor

The Mermaid of Zennor

Tousled locks of brine filled tears

a yearning heart through all those years

was swept upon that sun-clad beach

beyond the swelling tidal reach

and there, she lay beneath those rocks

and wept into her briny locks

her heart, which seemed to burst apart

with every sobbing moments start

did flood her inside out with grief

from which there seemed yet no relief

for though the sea's from eyes departed

no solace for the anguished hearted.

so there she wept for countless days,

resigned to loss in endless ways.

The sea it crashed upon those cliffs

and drowned the heartfelt wailing rifts

until in sombre Luna light

the sirens song did haunt the night

and all that heard those lilting sobs

were moved beyond all earthly mobs

and drawn into the briny sea

where sang the mermaids lilting plea

The love she had endured so long

a sorrow in that plaintiff song

was dashed upon those rocks laid bare

and filled her with a dark despair

it seemed this sea would never end

for she had lost her love and friend.

Just then up to the ragged edge

beyond the tawny tattered hedge

along the winding path above

appeared a saddened morning dove

he peered into the crags below

with warmth and heavens loving glow

on wings that seemed to hover brightly

sent down a heartfelt balm so lightly

it settled in her sombre heart

to calm and ease the waters smart

and stopped the ruddy briny flow

from out her pea green eyes of woe

and so she lay in sleep her tresses

to rest that beached sirens distresses.

The lamentation eased with sleep

and calmed her inner woe so deep

that now, and all at once did seem

that love returned within a dream

and standing there upon the shore

he shone delight for ever more

and she half dazed but unbelieving

was swept half crazed in sweet deceiving

for in her heart betwixt that rift

a bright angelic dawn filled gift

did weave together the wounds once more

and stem the bleeding wanton score

until the song she sang was sweet

and murmured through the waves replete.

So beauteous was that song now sung

like harps and chimes in heaven wrung

that every creature near and far

was drawn upon that sweet sea star

and so it was that he would come

along that winding cliff face glum

for he had suffered too it seemed

and found his heavy feet now dreamed

of flying from that cliff faced ledge

onto the surging waters edge

to dash this broken hearted woe

upon the rocks there down below

and end this crushing dark despair

with broken bones left lying there.

but lo, in drifts rhapsodically

this honeyed fluid harmony

did enter his dim downcast ear

upon that ledge that he was near

and as he stopped to hear that tune

mellifluously all too soon

he found himself half descending

along that path a spell unending

until at last on placid shore

beneath the white cliff chalke'd Tor

he stood before her shining flanks

amongst the creatures gathered ranks

agape, he wept such tears of joy

the aural salve, sweet songs employ.

Then in his own dark laboured heart

he felt deep rancour now depart

and gazing through her tousled hair

he spied a face of beauty fair

then knelt upon the sandy shore

his hope filled heart and sweet L'Amour

and while the waters lapped around

the sirens dulcet honeyed sound

did weave a spell of such delight

it shone resplendently so bright

that even kith and kin at sea

did join the song angelically

creating in those cloistered corners

a heavens balm for downcast mourners.

From night to day in Zennor's reach

upon that golden blessed beach

the two forlorn and slighted lovers

were healed beneath angelic covers

he sat becalmed, and braided locks

her silken hair amongst the rocks

until one blessed sun filled morn

alight the soothing fulsome dawn

did open up her eyes made new

and peered into his own of blue

it was as if in that sweet spell

two wounded hearts escaping hell

were sewn into each others own

so long this love inside had grown.

For in her daze and seeric sight

was woven future love filled light

for she now understood the score

and said goodbye forevermore

to past loves lost and half remembered

those echoes of a heart dismembered

and as they kissed in bliss, departed

she awoke to new days started

into his arms embraced so tightly

two heartfelt souls did tremble lightly

smiled, then kissed, while locked in stare

angelic loves born brightly there

upon that shore they formed new life

and she in time became his wife

Forgetting grief and woe before

into there arms with love and more

the sirens song a gift sublime

to herald dreams of future time

was played upon that shore-lined bliss

with heaven sent angelic kiss

embracing all this soul-filled love

that once was brought by winge'd dove

upon two souls both rent and weary

and sung together a spell most eerie

it healed each broken wanton heart

and freed the captive love to start

that man and souls did now adore

a mermaid fair of sweet Zennor.

© Richard Michael Parker 2009 

Artwork by Amy Knutkowski's