The Mermaid and the Fisherlad

The Mermaid and the Fisherlad

Mackie, Dr Lewis

Ae quiet meenlicht simmer's morn, roon aboot twa or three,
I heard a lassie's lovely voice, her singin' waukened me.
The sang it seemed tae call me an' gar'd me dress masel'
An' I wandered oot tae the gable en' like I wis in a spell.


The sang cam fae the seaward side, a deep melodious voice,
An' I found masel bein trysted there as though I hid nae choice.
I stood abune the Dulce Crag an' seaward cast my een
An' then I saw a body gleam in the shimmer o' the meen.


A lassie lay on the Black Rig, nae legs bit jist a tail
Shinin' in the meenlicht, flappin like a sail.
A' o' a sudden she saw me an turned aboot tae flee,
Tryin tae fin a haven, safe in the glistenin' sea.


I cried tae her "Ma bonny lass, dinna be feart at me
For I'm bit a crippled fisherlad, clubfitted till I dee"
She looked at me sae piteously, an' fan she saw ma feet
Her look wis a o' sympathy, her words were sad bit sweet.


"Oh, we hae this in common, oor sorrows baith compare,
An' so you will hae a freen for life, a life that will be fair.
For I will gie you a souter's skill, the best in a the lan'
An' fowk will bring fae far an' near their fitwear tae your han'."

Now fae that day I left the sea an' souterin' wis ma trade.
I got ma fortune wi' ma hans because o' that mermaid.
Sae min' you fowk that hear at nicht a song fae oot the rocks,
Tae mak a freen o' the fitless maid wi' the bonny tangled locks.
Though I hiv gotten a life that's rich wi' mony a gweed hearted freen,
I'll niver forget the best freen o' a', my bonny mermaid queen!