A merman calls to his children to join him in the depths of the sea, urging them to leave the world above. They reminisce about their mother, Margaret, who once ruled the underwater realm but has gone to the surface to pray in a church during Easter. The merman recalls her beauty and the joy she brought to their underwater life, but he is troubled by her absence. As the children call for their mother, they are filled with hope that she will return. They remember the last time she left, when she promised to come back after her prayers. The merman leads the children to the shore, where they witness the church and the townsfolk engaged in worship. Despite their calls, Margaret remains oblivious, absorbed in her prayers, and does not acknowledge her family. The merman feels a deep sense of loss as he watches her from afar, realizing that she has chosen the world above over their life in the sea. He reflects on her joy in the human world, contrasting it with the sorrow of their separation. The children, sensing the growing storm, are urged to return to the safety of the sea. The narrative explores themes of love, loss, and the conflict between two worlds—the enchanting underwater realm and the mundane human existence. The merman's longing for his wife and the children's desire for their mother highlight the emotional turmoil caused by her choice. The poem concludes with a sense of resignation, as the merman acknowledges that Margaret's faithfulness has waned, leaving him and their children to dwell forever in the depths, isolated from the joys of the surface world.
By Matthew Arnold · First published 1852 · Genre: Poetry, Romanticism, Fantasy