POEM TITLE The Blackness Selkie
POEM
Riding and racing the wild white horses
She swam up the Forth where a strong current courses
A bright waxing moon lit the walls of the fortress
The wind howled, like a witch’s screamed curses
Young Cal pulled his scarf tight round his neck
Bending his head, he stepped out on the deck
A small golden glow from the top of the tower
Told him the guvnor’d be busy for hours
He crept up the rampart, if caught, he’d be jailed
For leaving his post on the ship that never sailed
But tonight, there’d be laughter and music and a shot
Of the best whisky on offer at his local, The Lobster Pot
He slunk through the gatehouse, quiet for a man his size
To meet his pal Tam, away from prying eyes
‘Hey! Hey! How’s it goin’?’ they greeted each other
Unnoticed, she watched on from the edge of the water
The lads quickened their pace to be out of the storm
The Pot was a haven, all cosy and warm
The bright yellow building stood out from the clouds
And sounds drifted out of a happy, well-oiled crowd
The lads had their fill, a hot dinner and a tot
The epic fish ‘n’ chips served at The Lobster Pot
They sang a few songs, joined in wi’ the banter
At the stroke of midnight, young Cal lit his lantern
Stumbling and swaying he returned to his billet
Still with the taste of the best ever fish fillet
But the sound of a splash made him jump to attention
For what he saw next deserves a long mention
His heart skipped a beat, it was love at first sight
Oor Cal’s met a woman in the middle o’ the night
“Here hen, huv ma jaicket,’ he offered like a gent
A naked woman was unusual in Blackness he kent
Her name was Abhain, it’s Gaelic for river
Besotted, oor Cal wants the night to last forever
Abhain’s picked up her coat and much to Cal’s glee
She gie’d him a wee kiss before returning to the sea
I’ll see you next week and take you out for supper
She said ‘Aye awright’ with a flap of her flipper
Next day Cal couldn’t wait to tell his best mate
He’d met the woman of his dreams and she agreed to a date
The week went by slowly for our lovelorn young lad
When Abhain walked out the water he was ever so glad
He took her to The Pot for a romantic dinner
This time she had a dress, he was on to a winner
They gazed at each other with eyes like a pup
Tam’s been amazed - she’s real, no’ made up!
#Tam said, ‘You’ve done well, Abhain’s a pure belter!’
‘I know’ said oor Cal ‘and that’s what I telt her!’
Lobster’s her favourite, she said it’s pure braw
Tam said ‘Aye, right, but she’s eating it raw’
Her teeth crushed the shell like a kid eating crisps
She smiled at oor Cal with a lick of her lips
The locals dinae mind her strange eating habit
She makes young Cal happy, he’ll never be crabbit
The young couple settled in Blackness-on-sea
There’s no better place for loved up selkie
The years went by, and they lived happily
With their own shoal of bairns that swim in the sea
A lovely wee village it turned out to be
And here ends the tale of the Blackness Selkie
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