We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.
/

about

Poem written and narrated by Christine Valters Paintner. Music by Jake Morgan.

lyrics

What She Does Not Know
(for unsuspecting Selkies everywhere)

She does not know there is a reason
she always feels out of place
her life rigid and small, like living in a doll's house
a marriage more trap than longing
and when she chokes on courtesy and convention
the salt which burns her throat is not just tears.

She does not know that when she stands
on the sea’s wild edge and can finally
breathe, dream, weep,
her body strains forward
seawater in her veins, barnacles behind her knees
waves lap her ankles, thighs, torso, her cold breasts.

She does not know that when she swims
in that wide expanse and the swell
pulls her under, she does not need to struggle,
the sea has been longing for her as well –
everyone onshore aghast –
her daughter will grieve and wail and awaken
from dreams of the deep dark water
calling her name also.
 
---Christine Valters Paintner

From the poetry collection The Wisdom of Wild Grace (Paraclete Press)

credits

from Sound and Stillness: An audio collection of poems by Christine Valters Paintner, released August 9, 2020

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Abbey of the Arts image

Abbey of the Arts Galway, Ireland

Abbey of the Arts, in partnership with The Dancing Word, produces albums to inspire soulful connection to ancient monks and mystics, to Celtic practice and tradition, to the sacred feminine, and to Earth and her creatures.

contact / help

Contact Abbey of the Arts

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Redeem code

Report this track or account

If you like Abbey of the Arts, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Seafood Sam joins the show to discuss his newest album, " Standing On Giant Shoulders".
listen now