Swan-Child

by Margaret Widdemer

　　

---

Swan-Child is featured in The Old Road to Paradise (1918), dedicated to Aline.

---

MY feet have touched the Dancing Water, My lips have kissed the Singing Rose And I was born a swan-girl's daughter . . . Oh, I would stay with you, my lover, But in my heart a sea wind blows And in the dark the wild swans hover . . . Tonight as I went down to sea To cast my net, to draw my net, The Marsh-King's daughter whispered me, "Sister," she called, "do you forget?" For though I am a fisher's child It was a swan-maid mothered me, And I have wings that I can don When day is done, when dark comes on, To bear me high across the sea. One star-dusk when I waited you And it was long before you came, There was a bird with wings of blue And claws of gold and crest of flame Who sang with words as mortals do: He sang me of an ivory fountain Within a wood beyond a mountain Where lies beneath the water's flow A golden key, a silver cup, Until my hand shall lift them up . . . (Oh, I must go from you, my lover!) For they were mine once long ago. How shall you keep me, dear my lover? My heart is yours till night-winds call, And then dear earth-things fade and fall (Oh, I was born a swan-girl's daughter!) For I have found beneath the moon Brown fairy fernseed for my shoon That carries me where no man knows, Beyond the sands, beyond the clover . . . I cannot bide with you, my lover . . . My feet have touched the Dancing Water, My lips have kissed the Singing Rose.

---

---