Legend of the Cockle

by Deborah Spaulding

In Loch Ness lore, upon its banks there came a lovely lad

with golden hair and sparkling eye, in tartan he was clad.

And with his mates he romped and played with nary such a care;

their laughter could be heard as far as Inverness, they swear.

They’d lay upon the sun-warmed sand and climb the rocks ashore

and wade in pools left by the rain and scamper then some more.

But never would they enter in, the Loch was ever banned.

The kelpies there were legend but they could not live on land.

***

Came such a day the lad was worn and napping in the sun;

he spied a golden cockleshell; a prize for anyone.

He picked it up and there behold, he heard it call his name.

“Come laddie be my mate today and play my special game.”

From thence he took his cockleshell forswearing other boys.

He’d only hear the cockleshell; enchanted with its ploys.

“Come splash and swim and be my friend, the water here is fine.”

The shell was so beguiling, t’was no other choice in mind.

With one small toe the lad reached in to touch the glistening loch.

He saw his face reflected back and had a second thought.

By then it was too late and as the kelpie showed its face

the lad was thrown upon the waves; t’was nevermore a trace.

The townsmen gathered far and near to search the sea and land

they merely found a cockleshell just lying in the sand.

***

A few years hence, in Loch Ness lore there came a lovely lad

with locks of auburn, freckled face, in tartan he was clad.

And cockleshell in hand, he heard it plead its simple line

“Come play with me and be my mate, the water here is fine.”