The Mermaid of Purt le Moirrey
by Sadie Kaye

Samuel Collister is a poor fisherman from Purt le Moirrey (Port St Mary on the Isle of Man) who spots a mermaid at sea. He follows her at sea and she brings him luck in his catch. Their relationship blossoms into love but all is not well. Sam's mother and his fisherman friends are suspicious and jealous.

Always pointed and relevant to the modern day, this tale provides a powerful reflection on love, prejudice and courage to see beyond differences in marginalized communities.

This is an extract from the short play in verse by Sadie Kaye, with illustrations also by Sadie, published by Tenebrous Texts, ISBN 978-1914246531, available on Amazon, https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mermaid-Purt-Moirrey-Sadie-Kaye/dp/1914246535 .

Sam:
I toil to make ends meet
There is no catch no loot
I can't pull through
I am nearly destitute

Mermaid:
And by your mother's hatred
there's nothing I can do

I search for fishes
For your net
But all I can find
Are sour jellyfish
Which will not suffice
To make ends meet

Sam:
My luck's gone out I'm in a stew
When I'm out at sea
I'm not catching any fish
And a mermaid's always following me

When I first saw the maid
One day in the swell
I followed and sailed where she waved
And the fishing went very well

I followed her again the next few days
And all was good like before
But then suddenly the mermaid's ways
Brought me fish no more

And now she follows me everywhere
I can't throw her off—I've tried
Whatever I do there's no fish, no catch, no care
She's jinxed me and made me poor beside

What do you say?
What should I do?

[Then Sam's attempt to recite a charm to make the mermaid go away goes wrong]

Ned:
Sam what have you done?
You mangled the charm and lost the ring!
The spell won't work—it's all for none
And look at her she's started to sing

Mermaid:
Oh Sam yes Sam oh yes yes yes
Oh Sam yes I'm all happiness

I just heard you my darling Sam—
My love!—speak in words of gold!
Speaking of love and marriage evermore
And tossing a gold ring into the sea to me

To find out what happens next, see The Mermaid of Purt le Moirrey by Sadie Kaye ISBN 978-1914246531 available on Amazon.

The Mermaid of Purt le Moirrey is a haunting and beautiful tale, part myth, part mirror, holding up the sea’s depths to our own hearts. Sadie Kaye weaves folklore into a powerful reflection on love, prejudice, and the courage to see beyond difference. Katie Victoria, author of: I write because...

Updating an older fairy story put down by Dora Broome, [Sadie Kaye's play shows] how small-minded attitudes destroys lives and happiness. Jon Hartless, author of: Constructing Churchill

Sadie eloquently gives a timeless myth of thwarted love modern resonance. Lorna Rose, author of: Crown her with Ivy

Sadie Kaye's retelling of The Mermaid of Purt le Moirrey has ressurected this thought provoking tale to current times reflecting the current socio-economic climate of discrimination and fear of those who are perceived to be different. This story highlights the fears that have always existed for those wary of change. The beautiful almost dream-like images imprints on the reader as we the reader become invested in the story. I admire Sadie Kaye's ability to combine myth, folkore and tradition to bring a story that is over 70 years old and make it so accesible and relevant to todays reader. Saida Chowdhury, poet and author of Broken Minds