The following poetical rendition of Hans Christian Anderson's story was written some time ago by our late good friend Joan May Adler.
There might be errors, there might well be better words in places but this was Joan's work and her joy of poetry shines through.
There might be errors, there might well be better words in places but this was Joan's work and her joy of poetry shines through.
The Little Mermaid
Once upon a sea-bed the little mermaid swam
She lived in coral palaces too beautiful for man.
For she was the Sea King's daughter a princess of royal birth
With her sisters all day long she'd play till the sea-bed shook with mirth
Singing and dancing all of them there, but none as delightful as she
All who would come to hear that sweet voice were thrilled by her song of the sea.
Her grandmother would thrill the little mermaid with tales of the world above
For she yearned to know the world of men and gain the gift of love
She cared for her garden - her flowers with much joy
But most of all a marble statue of a very handsome boy
She dreamed that she would meet one day
A prince to take her far away.
Each year one of the sisters, as her fifteenth birthday came around
Was allowed up out of the sea-bed and so new freedom found
Five long years the little mermaid waited as her sisters took their turn
She listened to their tales in wonder and with longing she did burn
At last came her fifteenth birthday and her grandmother decked her in pearls
Arising out of the water to where the world unfurls.
On her first night from the deep - a big ship she did spy
With a human prince astride the helm outlined against the sky
The little mermaid fell in love when first she saw him there
And sang a song and loosened out her golden flowing hair
But all he heard was the sighing of the breeze and lapping of the waves
And the little mermaid yearned for him as she swam among the caves.
There were celebrations aboard the ship - for it was the prince's birthday
Loud fireworks dancing up above - guiding them on their way
When all was quiet around the ship a rumbling down below
Told of a storm more terrible than many sailors know
Into the heaving waters keeled the ship as lightening lit the sky
And the little mermaid saw her prince and feared that he would die.
She swam among the beams and planks that floated on the sea
And found the prince and held him up so drowned he would not be
They were washed into a little bay where an abbey there she saw
She kissed the prince and stroked his hair then left him on the shore
She hid behind some boulders tall, with sea-foam covering her hair
And watched while the prince recovered found by a maiden walking there
She knew he could not see her and watched while he walked away
The sadly she dived down into the sea away from that sandy bay
She would not tell her sisters of the adventure that she had
She just grew quieter than ever and very very sad.
She looked at the marble statue standing in her garden there
And thought it like the little prince with his face so fair.
To the bay she returned every evening and morn, but the prince she did not see
At last she told her sisters and they knew who the prince might be
So they took their little sister to see this palace tall
Where fountains splashed through a glass dome into the largest hall
The little mermaid went each day just to see the prince,
swimming nearer to the shore
forgetting all her fear
And if he caught a glimpse of her silver white veil
He would think it a swan gliding near.
As fonder she grew of earthly things – she longed to be human too
She thought of how she'd saved the prince -and how he never knew
Of how she'd held him close to her and lain her lips on his
For him she would forsake the deep though much in life she'd miss
All mermaids live three hundred years and then they turn to foam
For no immortal souls have they and so the seas they roam.
If to win an immortal soul is what you wish to do
A human man must love you best – enough to marry you
But put aside such foolish thoughts the old grandmother said
Be content to end your days with us upon the sea-bed
Yet the little mermaid would not be taught
And of a plan she schemed and thought.
In the palace under the sea a great ball was given this night
With sheets of flame that lit the sea – it was a wonderous sight
Mermen and mermaids sang and danced – more sweet than earthlings know
And the little mermaid sweeter still – her voice so soft and low
Yet through it all the handsome prince she still could not forget
So out of the palace she stole – and on her journey did set.
She decided to visit the sea witch – a terrible creature she,
No flowers bloomed where she lived and snakes grew on a tree
The mermaid passed a bubbling mire while arms reached out to catch her
In a house built of the bones of men, - the sea witch ruled by terror,
The little mermaid braved all these, although she shook with fright
And came upon the sea witch in the darkest of the night.
“I know why you have come my pretty princess”, the old sea witch cried,
“You want two props that they call legs – and to be the prince's bride,”
“You must swallow this drink and swim to the land before the rise of the sun”,
“Your tail will part and you'll have two legs on which you can walk and run”,
“But every step you take will be like treading on a sharp knife”
“It will seem as if you are losing the very blood of life”.
“Once you have taken on human form you can never to this life return.
If you fail to become the prince's bride and your love he would spurn,
Your heart will break on the day that he gives another his devotion
And then you will die and become as sea foam upon the ocean,
And for all this the price I demand is the precious gift of your voice
To cut out your tongue in return for this potion – that must be your choice.”
“But how do I charm the prince without my voice” the little mermaid cried,
“With your beautiful form and speaking eyes”, the old witch replied,
The little mermaid quaked with fear but agreed to the witches demands
So the potion was brewed in the cauldron there and placed in her shaking hands
Her tongue was cut out so she was dumb, and could neither speak nor sing
Then the little mermaid took the brew and back to her home she did swim.
All was quiet at the palace now but she dare not go inside,
So although her heard was breaking she road on the midnight tide,
Straight to that marble palace where stood the prince's domain,
Swallowing the drink prepared for her she fainted with the pain,
All night she lay as if in death until the morning sun
Shone down upon two pretty legs – her tail completely gone.
She opened her eyes to see the prince's face full of concern
He asked how she came there, but no answer could he learn,
She just gazed mutely up at him, pleading with eyes so blue,
He led her into the palace, dressed her in silks of every hue,
The slave girls danced and sang their song
But the loveliest voice of all was gone.
The little mermaid danced divinely, though each step cut like a knife,
The prince became enraptured by her, but would he then make her his wife,
He called her his little foundling and said she should always be near,
Each night she cooled her burning feet in cold sea water so clear
She would see her sisters sighing there and willing her to leave
With their grandmother and sea king father, for all of them did grieve.
Dearer grew she to the prince with every day that passed
But as a child and not a queen to rule with him at last
He told her of the maiden fair who found him on the beach,
Of how he dreamed of marrying her -but she was out of reach,
She lived in the holy temple – they would never meet again,
And so the love he bore for her he felt was all in vain.
A great ship was fitted out to visit the neighbouring king
He had a lovely daughter whose praises all did sing,
The prince said he could not marry and would only visit a while,
The little mermaid would accompany him because she made him smile
When they entered the king's fine city – all the bells rang out,
And the crowds who ran to greet them let out a joyous shout.
Each day brought balls and parties but no princess attended
Far away was she at her studies – but these now were ended,
And they eagerly awaited her after all that they had heard
Till at last the princess did arrive and a meeting then occurred
Between the princess and the prince – where much to their surprise
They recognised each other from that bay where the abbey lies.
“You are the one who saved me when I lay upon the shore,
Now we will be married and as one for ever more.”
The little mermaid watched the two and thought her heart would break
For she would turn to sea foam if another bride he'd take.
So the bells rang out for the wedding – to greet the happy pair,
And the little mermaid stood behind as if she did not care.
The royal ship was fitted out in purple and in gold,
To sail where bride and bridegroom many wonders could behold,
There was music and rejoycing just as long ago
The little mermaid first saw the prince standing on the bow.
She whirled in dance and the knives cup deep
For tonight the sea witch her vengeance would reap.
All aboard the ship was still – slumbering till the morn
But up on desk the mermaid stood waiting for the dawn.
With the suns first ray upon her face she knew that she must die,
Then from out of the sea her sisters rose calling her with a sign
They had given the sea witch their long flowing hair in exchange for the mermaid's life,
And the sea witch had cackled and laughed – and thrown them a long sharp knife.
“Plunge it into the prince while he sleeps and you need not die today
But hurry, for you must do it now before the sun's first ray,
When you feel his blood gush over your feet, it will turn them back to a tail.
Then with us you may return to the sea – so long as you do not fail
Our grandmother has been in mourning since you went out of the sea
Go take this chance we beg you and so happy we will be.
The little mermaid took the knife to where the prince did bide.
He lay sleeping peacefully, his princess by his side,
She gazed upon his handsome face and kissed him on the brow.
The knife it quivered in her hand, for she must strike him now.
Then as the dawn was shining bright she threw away the knife
As surely as she threw away her only chance of life.
The sea shone red where the knife had fell,
And spurted and bubbled as though in a well
With one last glance at the prince fast asleep.
She jumped from the ship and into the deep
Then felt her body dissolve into foam
But strangely thought she was not alone.
Floating along in the bright morning sun
Were transparent forms – of whom she was one
She floated along, as light as the air,
“To whom am I coming, and going where “
“We are the daughters of the air to roam
For an immortal soul to call our own.”
A soul can be gained by good deeds done
For three hundred years until it is won.
For the first time when the mermaid cried
The gift of tears she could not hide
At last a chance to gain her soul
For that had always been her goal.
While on board ship they searched in vain – and realised at last
Into the rolling waves below their little friend was cast
The prince in deepest sorrow, gazed sadly out to sea
The little mermaid looking down could sense his agony
Unseen by him or anyone, she kissed a last goodbye
Then soared up towards the heavens to live among the sky.
in memory of
Joan May Adler
17th November 2017