The Legend of the Selkie

The Legend of the Selkie

The land was calling
He could hear it
beckoning to his soul
Come, come it cried
Over and over
Echoing through the shoal

He followed the sounds
through the waters deep
until the beach he found
Where he shed his sealskin
taking on human form
and laid there on the ground

Breathless, resting on the sand
Looking skyward to the sun
Feeling the warmth of the glow
A shadow crossed his eyes
and he did see an outline
of a beautiful female torso

As he struggled to get up
the girl held out her hand
“Come with me”, she said
Mesmerized he complied
“You and I belong together
and we will surely wed”

He hid away his Selkie skin
in a place so secret
no one would ever look
He lived happily in human form
with his beautiful bride but
curiosity is all it took

She found his sealskin
one fateful day
in its hiding place
The legend came true
He did leave her there, alone
with her own good grace

The sea called him back
to where he did belong
leaving her broken-hearted
The Selkie returned
from whence he came
to the ocean uncharted


Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing ©

Whimsy Gizmo is hosting D'Verse Poets tonight
and has prompted us with Legends of Mermaids,
Sirens and Selkies.  I had prepviously written a poem
about the Legend of the Selkie and wanted to share
it again with you tonight.

You can learn more about The Legend
of the Selkie  here

  34 comments for “The Legend of the Selkie

  1. Beverly Crawford
    June 25, 2020 at 12:16 pm

    …and had his wife not been so curious they’d still be happy! Another sad sea tale …. well written!

    • Christine Bolton
      June 25, 2020 at 1:03 pm

      There is a moral to that story! Thanks so much Beverly 🥰

  2. June 25, 2020 at 8:27 am

    I think we can never ever hide or shed away our real “skin” or “self”. I enjoyed this share, thanks.

    • Christine Bolton
      June 25, 2020 at 1:00 pm

      Thank you Grace. I live those old legends and superstitions 🙂

  3. June 24, 2020 at 3:39 pm

    Oh the curious mind… how often it leads to disaster.

    • Christine Bolton
      June 24, 2020 at 4:35 pm

      Yes! It always kills the cat!

  4. De Jackson
    June 24, 2020 at 2:32 pm

    Christine, I love this. I cannot imagine leaving the ocean if I lived there, so I feel this deepest from his perspective.

    • Christine Bolton
      June 24, 2020 at 4:37 pm

      Thank you so much De. I was fascinated by the stories shared and beliefs that are held even to this day☺️

  5. June 24, 2020 at 12:53 pm

    It is not a good idea to fall in love with a selkie… lovely poem

    • Christine Bolton
      June 24, 2020 at 4:42 pm

      Lol that’s for sure Debi 😊 thank you for reading 💕

  6. June 24, 2020 at 12:14 pm

    A truly sweet and sad story! The sea seems always to be calling…

    • Christine Bolton
      June 24, 2020 at 4:44 pm

      Yes it’s as if it has a language of its own. Thanks Dwight 😊

  7. June 24, 2020 at 11:38 am

    wow! I love when stories are told through poetry.

    • Christine Bolton
      June 24, 2020 at 4:46 pm

      Thanks Jay. I used to write that way quite a lot but I try and change it up.

      • June 24, 2020 at 6:54 pm

        I actually started my blog writing fake life stories. 🤣

  8. June 24, 2020 at 10:26 am

    So sombre😥

  9. June 24, 2020 at 8:34 am

    That’s a true selkie ballad, Christine! I like the mournful sound of the rhymes and the way the story unfolds, with the girl seducing the selkie and eventually sending him back to the sea.

    • Christine Bolton
      June 24, 2020 at 10:02 am

      Thanks Kim. It’s amazing how these legends live on and are still believed to this day by some 🙂

  10. June 24, 2020 at 6:45 am

    What comes to mind is “Better to have loved and lost, than not to have loved at all.” At least she had some time with him.

    • Christine Bolton
      June 24, 2020 at 10:03 am

      Yes, that’s a great observation Darnell. ☺️ Thanks for reading

  11. June 24, 2020 at 3:22 am

    Beautifully crafted, Christine! 💞🙂

    • Christine Bolton
      June 24, 2020 at 10:07 am

      Aww thanks Punam 🙂💕

      • June 24, 2020 at 10:53 am

        You are welcome, dear.🙂

  12. June 24, 2020 at 3:02 am

    So sad that the two lovers had to part.

    • Christine Bolton
      July 5, 2020 at 4:29 pm

      I apologize for not replying sooner. Your message was in the spam box 😕 Thank you for reading. Yes, so sad she had to look and then lost her love.

  13. June 24, 2020 at 2:15 am

    What intrigue! I love this piece.

    • Christine Bolton
      June 24, 2020 at 10:07 am

      Thank you so much for reading it 🙂💕

      • June 26, 2020 at 11:44 pm

        Of course!😊

  14. June 24, 2020 at 1:16 am

    A tragic end!
    Too much curiosity is never good

    • Christine Bolton
      June 24, 2020 at 10:07 am

      Yes, so true Sadje 🙂💕

      • June 24, 2020 at 11:41 am

        👍

  15. June 23, 2020 at 11:17 pm

    Well-done, Christine!

  16. June 23, 2020 at 10:18 pm

    I really enjoyed this!

    • Christine Bolton
      June 23, 2020 at 11:07 pm

      Thank you! I really appreciate it ☺️

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