Beachcomber by S Cowe of Jack the Lad

As I was out walking on North Huis sand
There I met a seal maiden, she gave me her hand
And I kissed it so sweet, she followed me home
And she spoke in a voice so forlorn
All the day I've been searching the shore for my skin
For without it I cannot return to my kin
But the skin I had hidden, to guard with my life
And I asked her to stay with me, be my wife

So we married so happy for many a year
With six beautiful children without shame or fear
And I kept the skin moist, but cleverly his
Always wanting the things that she did
Till the time came she obviously yearned to get back
And my son saw me hiding the skin in a sack
Told his mother who waited till night, then she crept
And she kissed us goodbye as we softly slept

So she made for the shore to be rid of dry land
Her footsteps disturbing not one grain of sand
And she dressed in her skin and swam back to her folk
And the ache in my heart it was broken
But I notice each morning, about the same spot
Lay a basket of fishes, she has not forgot
Since she went from my house, we never hunt seals
And not one of my clan has been lost at sea

And my seal maiden whose heart will ever with seal folk be