There are some weird stories and folktales that seemingly crawl from the depths of the ocean. Recently, these stories have been trickling into my mind. And, I don't know about you, but it has been such a long time since I last saw the sea and went on an actual holiday!
My favourite stories from the sea (or just any body of water) are of the Selkie and the Kelpie. Even though they have rhyming names, they are very different creatures!
The Selkie is said to be a seal that can shed its skin and become a human to walk on dry land.
The Kelpie is a whole lot creepier, a suducter of sorts. Usually found in lakes and rivers, the kelpie appears as a horse with a shiny wet coat and sometimes with algae clinging to its mane. If you get upon its back it will drag you into the water and drown you...
Anyway, as these two creatures kept dancing through my mind, I decided to write a couple of poems to bring them to life.
Sealed away
It's been seven years
I think
I stopped counting
but the ache
of the fake smile
reminds me.
A woman, too pink and round
furrows her brow and
my fist shatters her nose
into a hundred glass shards
shimmering to my feet
like sand.
My salt tears bring flashes back.
You stole my skin! And who am I without it?
Not this person
you forced me to be.
Not the imposter you see.
Condemned to be trapped
outside of my body.
I'm no longer sure
who sealed away my secret?
Maybe we're both afraid
of what will happen.
If I break open the seakisk
unfold the supple grey flesh
run to the ocean
and let myself remember.
Would I leave forever?
Would I then be free?
I'm no longer sure I recognise
either version on me.
Kelpie
Let me hold you,
feel your hand against my skin.
I ache to move you
against this body that I'm in.
Hold on tight, the water's rising.
The waves are crashing in on us now.
You gasp for air and I hear you crying.
I drag you deeper than your lungs allow.
I'll keep you tonight, I'll keep you forever.
We'll hide in this forgotten river.
Our bodies will dissolve into water creatures,
we'll learn what no myths could ever teach us.
I take a hold of you,
feel your hand against my skin.
I pull you under
and let this tragedy begin.
So to summarise from all of this... I really need a holiday!
I've been non stop recently, so apologies for my absence. Me and my partner have just bought our first house and moved in; I started a new freelance job, and we're getting married in 4 weeks!
So, yeah, pretty hectic.
But I'm trying to get everything ready for a relaunch ready for the Christmas rush!
Until next time xo
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