The Singer Of Zennor - A Cornish Myth (Poetry)

A Zennor man was singing
in the village church one day
when a beautiful young woman
came to hear him and to pray

His voice was like no other
the strange lovely woman fell
enchanted so completely
and enamoured by its spell

One Sunday after church she took
a walk beside the sea
and curious he followed her
charmed by her mystery

Those cliffs rose high and treacherous
who knows what then befell
both vanished and years later
there came news of more to tell

A ship’s captain dropping anchor
heard a mermaid calling out
and he knew her for the woman
in the church — he’d little doubt

when she asked that he lift anchor
for it lay upon her roof
where she lived with Zennor’s singer
his pure voice soared up as proof

The story’s old but far from over
Zennor’s fishermen still swear
they can hear a young man singing
though the seas are rough or fair

For his song predicts the weather
high notes say all will be calm
but the lower tones give warning
their small boats may come to harm

Some detect the odd note’s wistful
telling clues about his life
in the company of fishes
and his ageless sea-born wife

Perhaps he dreams of singing
in that little church on shore
and walking on the solid ground
and breathing air once more

But he’s down among the merfolk
and he’s never coming home
just his song escapes the fathoms
bubbles free above the foam