She came to find me, little scion of the nerve,
with sea foam seeded innocence, all milkiness and verve
and a heart like a lion hell bent on what it wanted,
regardless of the hell to pay.

I warned her that the surface was no fairy tale come true,
that love can do more damage than you think that it can do,
but she bade me name my price, and so
I left her mute and haunted,
winsome in the light of day.

Where the ocean meets the land,
grit your teeth and stand upon
your own two feet, my darling.
Do take care.
Guard your precious heart
in the verdant world apart if you're
gonna leave the water for the air.

I kept a distant eye on the new life she was building,
betting on a love who seemed unhearing and unyielding,
but her will, like a lion, was too wild for backing down
or for sensing the time to take wing.

When her sisters came to see me with their
wide and tearful eyes,
the best that I could offer was a blade for her to try
for stopping the heart that would never bow down
to a siren who could not sing.

This is why, my minnow,
I've been loath to let you go.

Where the ocean meets the land,
grit your teeth and stand upon
your own two feet, my darling.
Do take care.
Guard your precious heart in
the verdant world apart if you're
gonna leave the water for the air.

Every word is true.
You'll do what you have to do.
I know your spirit cannot stay
inside its shell,
but I'll be watching from the deep
when you wake and as you sleep.
Take the knife before you leave
and use it well.