Stole of the Seal
Words: Joe Kesselman. Copyright 1995
Music: "Soul of the Steel", by B. J. Willinger
I am the Stole of the Seal
Not artificial fiber, I am real
Though I was once alive and was happy in the sea
The hand of Man has murdered mine and me
Last spring my pod and I
Came a-swimming down the miles
Just as we always had in days of yore
To rest and bear our young
In the shelter of the isles
But hunters had discovered our shore
They harvested my kin and me
As they would reap a field
Until the birthing beach was red with blood
Men took my people's skins
Left our corpses for the gulls
Our bones were washed away by spring tide's flood
I bear the soul of the seal
I warn you, heed this tale that I reveal
You call me now a stole, and the reason's plain to see
You wrap yourself in fur you stole from me
And so you wear me now
To your galleries and shows
Amidst Manhattan's steel and glass and stone
To emphasize your grace
For mankind shares our taste
For silky fur, though you can't grow your own
But I will wait until the day
I feel the ocean's spray
And hear salt water churning into foam
For then I'll claim your flesh
To fill my empty skin
And as a selkie you will take me home
Yes, you'll play the role of the seal
And learn the joys and terrors that we feel
Both pinneped and man lie beneath the Gods' command
And I have sworn I'll once again be whole
Who wears my skin will someday share my soul
Permission is granted to reproduce, and perform, this song
for non-profit purposes only. Authorship information and
this message must be included in any reproduction.
Acknowledgment of authorship during performance would be
appreciated, as would feedback on the song's reception, but
neither is officially required. Filk is supposed to be
fun, not work!
More Songs of the Cat
The Caterwaul / Joe Kesselman / keshlam-nospam@comcast.net (sic)