Guillermo Gómez Gil, “Moonrise,” [Public Domain], Wikipedia Commons
as sun set and the stars did rise?
Bound to go, but I wondered why.
Hands clasped fast, we said our good-byes,
now the leaves rustle, the moon sighs.
The sea whispers, and he would go,
his family calls from ocean deep.
Before the cold of winter snow,
he would go, his promise to keep.
Sleep, my love, he said, dream and sleep.
Summer leaves wither and then fall
but my belly swells, what will be?
I wonder if he’ll hear my call
return again for child or me?
Tides ebb and flow, constant, the sea.
And did you hear a love-felt cry
as sun set and the stars did rise?
Hearts torn twixt, under midnight sky?
Hands clasped fast, we said our good-byes,
now the leaves rustle, the moon sighs.
Grace has asked us to write a Quintain for dVerse. Mine uses the English rhyme scheme, but perhaps it is a cross between English and Spanish. I was in the mood for a ballad– it was only after I started writing it, that I realized it was about a Selkie.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Lovely! And the image fits the ballad so well. I love the repetition and near repetition.
Thank you! I was hoping you’d see this one. 🙂
I love the style. It’s simple, the same old story, but is there really a need to make things complicated?
Exactly. 🙂
🙂
Merril, this is outstanding. You’re a marvelous poetess.
Thank you so much, Holly!
I’ve always liked ballads. 🙂
me too! 🙂
Sighhhhhhh, Sad story, wish she’d known, but now, her life’s a poem.
And a gorgeous one at that!
Awww–thank you, Pam.
I guess one doesn’t expect to fall in love with a Selkie. 🙂
You do this so well…
Wonderful, though sad.
Thank you very much, Dale. Well, maybe he’ll return.
Maybe…
Sad, but so beautiful, Merril. Nicely done!
Thank you very much, Jill.
Wonderful, Merril. Sad, yes, but beautiful.
Thank you, Ken.
aching and yearning. you’ve used the form so well!
Thank you so much!
you are welcome 🙂
Love the ballad Merril though it is heart breaking for her and the child. The refraining first and last stanza brought home the pain of that goodbye.
Thank you very much, Grace.
This Quintain was very melodic! I almost felt the waves pulling and taking the “partner” out to sea. Such a natural and lovely flow to this, Merril.
Thank you very much, Robin!
You’re welcome, Merril! I miss my stopping by but often, even on weekends, I am kept busy.
Your gathering looked so fun, silly and full of energy! 😀
Thank for taking the time, Robin. It seems like you are busy in a good way. It was fun seeing everyone. I’m not sure about energy–just looks that way. 🙂
I like the slight twist of him being the selkie. It’s the perfect combination of theme and form, beautifully drawn. Classic.
Thank you very much, Sarah. I remember you like selkies, too. 🙂
I do, I do! We should pull together a selkie anthology…
That would be fun. 🙂
So beautifully poignant
Thank you, Derrick.
It’s so often the woman is the one being from the sea not the man, I read it first as he was a sailor or a fisherman.
I saw there was a statue somewhere of a female selkie, but there’s a folk song in which it’s a man who comes for his child. I suppose it works either way as a selkie or a sailor. I just imagined the other selkies were calling to him. 🙂
This is classic perfection – the imagery, the repetition, the rhyme. I can feel the longing, the sorrow, the uncertainty.
Thank you for the lovely comment!
You are so welcome
Beautiful Merril, really beautiful…:-)
Thank you very much!
Nice line: “return again for child or me?”
Thank you, Frank!
This is just lyrical. A ballad for sure. Tried and true, so wonderfully done.
Thank you so much!
I love the lyricality of your quintain, Merril, that it starts and ends with questions, and the sounds of the leaves rustling and the sea whispering provide a beautiful soundtrack to the poignant tale of pregnancy.
Thank you very much, Kim!
I feel lots of motion – and commotion – here, contrasting with the constant, the whispering sea. The questions provide pregnant pauses . . .
Well done, Merril!
Thank you very much, Marian. “Pregnant pauses”–cute! 🙂
Nicely paired with the photo 🙂
Thank you very much! 🙂
Hmm. Perhaps a selkie or a siren? I can hear the alluring song through your bewitching poem, Merril. Absolutely lovely and heart wrenching! 🧜🏽♀️🏝
Thank you so much, Rose!
I was thinking selkie.