Hymn to the Sea

Ma, Ma, primordial sea,
Womb of the mother & cauldron of dreams
Deep, dark, a comfort to me
Waters of life, flow around me

In caverns so dark where the eye cannot see
The seal people swim & their voices are light
Where the kelp fronds all sway in the tug of the tide
The mother's dark forests all hid from our sight

Ma, Ma, primordial sea,
Womb of the mother & cauldron of dreams
Deep, dark, a comfort to me
Waters of life, flow around me

I stand on these rocks where you circle the sky
& you carve at the coastline's rugged old face
The pipers are piping for the tide it is low
& I bow & I swear to sing of this place

Ma, Ma, primordial sea,
Womb of the mother & cauldron of dreams
Deep, dark, a comfort to me
Waters of life, flow around me

On Winter's cold swells, far to the north
Thousands of birds all darken the sea
In great fleeted rafts on the ocean's grey breast
& I pray for the safety of that company

Ma, Ma, primordial sea,
Womb of the mother & cauldron of dreams
Deep, dark, a comfort to me
Waters of life, flow around me

Out there on the ocean where the whale fishes swim
Brave men go forth with their oars & their sails
To harvest the silvery larder of  shoals
Through white capped mountains, rainstorms & gales

Ma, Ma, primordial sea,
Womb of the mother & cauldron of dreams
Deep, dark, a comfort to me
Waters of life, flow around me

I can remember a long time ago
I lay in the pool & I felt your embrace
You lifted my body with the power of your waves
But I was afraid & I hid from your face

Ma, Ma, primordial sea,
Womb of the mother & cauldron of dreams
Deep, dark, a comfort to me
Waters of life, flow around me

So now I'm returning to swim in your shade
& dive into your forest all golden & green
To sing to you secretly,  Mother of all
Heart of the ocean, all dim & unseen

Ma, Ma, primordial sea,
Womb of the mother & cauldron of dreams
Deep, dark, a comfort to me
Waters of life, flow around me

Your beauty is perfect, your power is vast
The current of life from which everything streams
You rule the planet, future & past
Oh olive skinned Goddess of my lucid dreams!

Ma, Ma, primordial sea,
Womb of the mother & cauldron of dreams
Deep, dark, a comfort to me
Waters of life, flow around me

In caverns so dark where the eye cannot see
The seal people swim & their voices are light
Where the kelp fronds all sway in the tug of the tide
The mother's dark forests all hid from our sight

Ma, Ma, primordial sea,
Womb of the mother & cauldron of dreams
Deep, dark, a comfort to me
Waters of life, flow around me

Barry Patterson
Completed at last, after many years in my mind: January 2008