The Sea- Child

Katherine Mansfield

Into the world you sent her, mother,
     Fashioned her body of coral and foam,
Combed a wave in her hair's warm smother,
     And drove her away from home

In the dark of the night she crept to the town
     And under a doorway she laid her down,
The little blue child in the foam-fringed gown.

And never a sister and never a brother
     To hear her call, to answer her cry.
Her face shone out from her hair's warm smother
     Like a moonkin up in the sky.

She sold her corals; she sold her foam;
     Her rainbow heart like a singing shell
Broke in her body: she crept back home.

Peace, go back to the world, my daughter,
     Daughter, go back to the darkling land;
There is nothing here but sad sea water,
     And a handful of sifting sand.

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