Ballad

Listen to an audio version of this poem as read by Daniel Cabena.

I was well past child-bearing years
and children had, though only three,
when I was walking on the strand
and a sea-grey selkie said to me,

      O come away, my beautiful one,
      arise and come away with me.
      I am a man upon the land,
      I am a selkie in the sea.

O how can I away with you?
A man I have, and children three.
If you had come when I was young
I would have gone away with thee.

      And home I went to my husband true
      and bounced my babies on my knee,
      but my dreams were full of the selkie’s song
      and the Eli, Eli of the sea.

So I went down to the shore again
and said, All right, I’ll go with thee:
come up and claim what is thine own.
No answer came from the seal-grey sea.

      So I went home to my husband true
      and sang to my beautiful children three,
      I am a woman on the land,
      I am a selkie in the sea.

O come away my beautiful one.
O why hast thou forsaken me?

Luke Hathaway

Luke Hathaway is a trans poet who teaches English and creative writing at Saint Mary’s University, in Halifax. His latest collection of poems, The Affirmations, was published in April.

This Year, The Walrus Turns 20

For two decades, Canadians have relied on our thought-provoking journalism to make sense of our world.

As we look at Who We Are Now in 2023, help us power the next 20 years of inspiring conversations and fact-checked journalism. Donate to The Walrus today.

With thanks
Jennifer Hollet
Executive Director

Become a monthly supporter

Or make a one-time donation