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)